Question

is this true W. E. B. Du Bois believed that African Americans should not abandon the quest for equality because while they were trying to establish themselves as respectable members of society their situation may get worse.

Answer 1

Yes, that statement reflects one of W. E. B. Du Bois’s key beliefs. Du Bois was a prominent African American sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist who argued against the idea of accommodation to racial discrimination as suggested by some contemporary figures, such as Booker T. Washington.

Du Bois advocated for the importance of higher education and the development of a "Talented Tenth"—a leadership class of educated African Americans who would fight for civil rights and strive for social equality. He believed that abandoning the quest for equality and settling for a subordinate status would not be a viable solution, and could indeed worsen the situation for African Americans.

In his view, it was essential for African Americans to actively pursue civil rights and social justice, rather than accepting inferiority or waiting for gradual progress. Du Bois emphasized that direct action and advocacy were necessary to challenge the systemic racism and oppression faced by African Americans.