Contemporary Relevance of the Du Boisean Duality Construct
Keywords:
W.E.B. Du Bois, Black American identity, duality construct, Afrocentrism, social construction of identity, post-civil rights AmericaAbstract
This article analyzes the contemporary relevance of W.E.B. Du Bois's duality construct, which describes Black American identity as a conflict between two unreconciled strivings: an American identity and a Negroid identity. The paper examines how this construct has shaped discourses on Black identity and explores recent challenges to it in post-civil rights America. The study investigates the social and historical determinants of Black identity construction, highlighting the impact of alienation and integrationist aspirations. It also delves into contemporary debates that question the coexistence and reconciliation of these conflicting ideals, presenting perspectives such as Afrocentric, Americentric, Universalistic, and Slavocentric. The article argues that the Afrocentric perspective, which asserts an African-centered identity, poses a significant challenge to Du Bois's duality construct. By examining these discourses, the paper demonstrates the ongoing significance of Du Bois's framework in understanding Black American identity.
(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)
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