Question

How did the ideas presented in W. E. B. Du Bois's 1906 address, as mentioned in the passage, affect the early Civil Rights movement in the United States?

A. By encouraging African Americans to achieve equality through vocational education
B. By directly supporting Marcus Garvey's Black Star Steamship Line
C. By encouraging African Americans to accept Jim Crow laws
D. By forming the basis for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

Answer 1

W. E. B. Du Bois's 1906 address affected the early Civil Rights movement by laying the foundation for the NAACP and promoting the idea that educated African Americans should lead the fight for equality, which inspired others to challenge Jim Crow laws and discrimination.

Step-by-step explanation:

The ideas presented in W. E. B. Du Bois's 1906 address profoundly influenced the early Civil Rights movement in the United States. His call for political, social, and educational equality laid the groundwork for the foundation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Du Bois's insistence on equality and integration—rejecting the accommodationism of Booker T. Washington—inspired others to join the civil rights crusade, aiming to dismantle Jim Crow laws and fight for African American rights. Furthermore, his concept of the "talented tenth" advocated for the development of leaders from within the African American community who would spearhead the push for equal rights.

It was through his leadership in the NAACP that Du Bois translated his thoughts into action, utilizing legal challenges, public protests, and advocacy to confront discrimination and segregation. The NAACP became synonymous with the Civil Rights movement, playing a pivotal role through court cases designed to overturn discriminatory laws and practices. Therefore, the correct answer is D, as Du Bois's ideas and subsequent actions helped form the basis for the NAACP.