Initial Thoughts

Dubois' theory on "double consciousness" explains a state of mind, a way of being, that results from being disenfranchised from American identity and therefore from effectiveness in the political sphere.  He feels that until an African-American person  can merge his sense of being African with his sense of being American--for he sees these as separate and constitutive of two disparate ways of understanding himself--until he can merge these, says Dubois, a black person will not be able to participate effectively in American society as a whole nor understand himself as a complete human being: he will always see himself within "the contradiction of double aims." I wonder if his view on "double consciousness" is only considered by him to be experience of disenfranchised African-Americans, who or does he think this idea can help explain the feelings of any estranged group within society.

"Double consciousness is the sense of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others." This dual identity of being "Negro" and American doesn't allow blacks to have another source upon which to base their identity. This results in a "veil" between the black man's world and the white world that establishes blacks as both American citizens and American victims. Blacks brought their slave status with them into American society, and the double identity of being both "free" and "unequal". To achieve freedom, progress for blacks should include economic success, education, the right to vote, and recognition of their spirituality, but never were all of these issues addressed at the same time. This "veil" taught blacks in rural communities to accept that what they have is good enough, resulting in the world asking little of them, and the blacks giving little to the world. Urban blacks can attain material wealth, but they must turn their backs on their spirituality that distinguishes them as black people.

Overall, I believe DuBois believes that double consciousness does not offer any solutions for blacks, but by recognizing its existence and getting rid of it, only then can we come up with solutions. When blacks achieving self-respect and respect in their own communities becomes the same as achieving them in white society, only then can real progress be measured.