Quote by W. E. B. Du Bois
An American, a Negro... two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.
Summary
This quote, from W.E.B. Du Bois' seminal work "The Souls of Black Folk," describes the internal conflict and duality faced by African Americans in the United States. It portrays the complexity of their identity and the constant struggle between two conflicting worlds. The "dark body" represents the individual's physical existence, which binds together the diverging aspirations and perspectives of being both American and black. The quote highlights the profound resilience and determination that enables African Americans to maintain their unity and resist the forces that may divide them.