“W.E.B. Du Bois: Will the Truth Set You Free?”

The author of the address is Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, who spoke to a group at the New York Society for Ethical Culture on February 7, 1949. (Thanks to Carolyn Parker for finding the text of Dr. Du Bois’ talk!) This very timely address pertains especially to the need to face facts about enslavement and racism and to acknowledge the contributions of people of African descent – and it points out numerous places where that facing of fact has not occurred.

Dr. Du Bois’ words pertain especially to the resolution passed at the  AEU Assembly in 2017, “Toward Repairing the Harm of Racism” which states: “Therefore, we affirm efforts to study the lasting effects of the heritage of enslavement and racial discrimination especially on living African Americans, but also on other people of color, and on American society as a whole. We also affirm efforts to study ways that such lasting negative effects can be repaired, and to be involved in actions to repair such effects.”

Special thanks to the volunteer planners of the 1/30 All-Society Platform: Susan Solomon of the Ethical Society of Northern Westchester, Carolyn Parker of the Ethical Society of Austin, Taty Sena of the Brooklyn Society For Ethical Culture, and Joanna Brandt of the Baltimore Ethical Society!