souls of black folk

Chelsey Wilkins
2 pg. Lit. Chapt. 3-4
01/7/10

W.E.B Du Bios’, “The Souls Of Black Folk” was a book dedicated to the life of African Americans. Chapters three and four focused on the times during and post civil war. Main ideas ranged from their role in society to the United States roles in their lives.

Slaves were major attribants during the civil war era. In the South they were used to produce and create supplies for those men who served in the army. Blacks were more than slaves because they were reliable in society and numerous in the war. The book talked about how after Lincoln approved his Emancipation Proclamation, slaves began to poor in the North as a stream would. For the North, the extra supply of soldiers would bring an advantage as well as a problem. Slaves played a huge role during this era from producing for soldiers to fighting for their own freedom as well.

Yet as the slaves started to flow in, they became problems. The North had to not only worry about the war but to find places of shelter and food for slaves of the rebels. The government took that responsibility and created one of the most known, The Freedman’s Bureau, which came to the aid of those freedmen. Followed by others such as the Freedman’s Aid society etc. I believe the slaves played a major role in bringing the North together, kind of a type of test to test their strength in dealing with tragedies.

As the chapter went on, it focused more on how the government dealt with the flow of slaves. Du Bios pointed out his opinion that if you are a soldier or a worker behind them...we are all humans and no ones opinion is above the others. Du Bios’s point of view toward slaves in society seemed rational. His writing looked down on any white man, not so much of thanked them but showed how blacks affected the white men in the north, and the measures that were taken to help them.

Too conclude, Du Bios wrote a book about the well-being of blacks. Chapters three and four referrers back to the time when blacks played and important role in society. The civil war era was a very important time for slaves in the rebel states. I believe the slavery issue shaped the civil war.