95

W. E. B. DUBOIS, PH. D.
Editor of The Crisis.

Dr. W. E. B. DuBois recently celebrated his fiftieth anniversary.
The Crisis' for February contained a short autobiography of him.
As a mark of appreciation, a few of his friends tendered him a
testimonial banquet in New York.

Dr. DuBois received his Ph. D. from Harvard University; studied
at the leading universities of Europe; held a Fellowship in the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania, during which time he published "The Phila-
delphia Negro, " the first scientific discussion on the American Negro
problem. He subsequently held a professorship at Wilberforce and
at Atlanta universities. At Atlanta University he instituted, under
the auspices of the Atlanta Conference, that cycle of studies per-
taining to the trades, home life and religion, schools and colleges
of the American Negro, which made it inexcusable for any one
thereafter to express mere opinions upon these matters.

As a writer and lecturer. Dr. DuBois is known on both conti-
nents. His "Souls of Black Folk" is said to be one of the best
books written in America during a half century. One of his most
recent books, "The Negro, " shows the author's power of coordina-
tion and graphic representation. After reading this little book one
can never again doubt the historical significance of the African
Negro nor fail to respect his gifts and contributions to the world
civilization.

As an orator, Dr. DuBois is always eagerly heard. For twenty
years or more he has held the platform in nearly every important
town in this country and in many cities of Europe. He is always
prepared. Hi? message is always a new phase of the world prob-
lem. His language is beautiful, his logic unanswerable, his delivery
pleasing.

It would be difficult to decide which of his many contributions
to science, to letters, to the solution of social problems is most im-
portant. Not the least important of his labors was the founding
of The Crisis, which is not merely the chief organ of the N. A. A.
C. P., but is the voice of 12,000,000 black folks, who look to it for
information, for inspiration and for guidance. "Out of nothing"
Dr. DuBois created this remarkable magazine which has already
made its way into the hands of one hundred thousand readers. The
standards of the magazine are the standards of the editor—truth
and art without compromise, unpurchasable. M. A. H.