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This seminar will introduce students to the ideas and legacy of the renowned American scholar, journalist, and activist, W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963), asking students to locate Du Bois in his historical context and in our own. Through readings and discussions of his key works in various forms, we will assess Du Bois’s impact on major debates in American politics, African-American affairs, and academic disciplines like sociology and history. We will track changes in Du Bois's thinking over time, including in his views of racism, class, gender, liberalism, radicalism, imperialism, and war. Finally, we will consider the ways in which Du Bois's work continues to shape our understanding of these issues and debates in contemporary American society.