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Which concept does DuBois suggest to explain the feeling of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others?

a) Double consciousness
b) Racial separatism
c) Integration
d) Assimilation

1 Answer

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Final answer:

W.E.B. Du Bois's concept to explain the feeling of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others is double consciousness. This term describes the experience of having dual identities as an African American in a society that devalues African heritage.

Step-by-step explanation:

The concept that W.E.B. Du Bois suggests to explain the feeling of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others is double consciousness. This notion expresses the internal conflict experienced by subordinated or colonized groups in an oppressive society. Du Bois argues that African Americans see themselves simultaneously as both American and African, yet in a society that devalues their African heritage, this leads to a sense of two warring identities within the same person. This concept is a recurring theme in Du Bois's work, particularly in 'The Souls of Black Folk', where he eloquently discusses the struggles of living with a dual identity in an America that refuses to acknowledge the full personhood of Black people. The experience of double consciousness can result in Black Americans viewing their own culture negatively due to the pervasive nature of racism and the societal desire to measure them by a White standard.

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