Final answer:
W.E.B. Du Bois was the sociologist who made a major contribution to the study of urban life and the experiences of Blacks and Whites through his empirical methods and civil rights activism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sociologist who made significant contributions to society with his in-depth studies of urban life, including the experiences of both Blacks and Whites, was W.E.B. Du Bois. Du Bois's empirical approach to sociology was groundbreaking for its time, especially his comprehensive study known as The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study, which investigated the lives of African Americans in Philadelphia. His work addressed issues such as the disenfranchisement of Black Americans and the entrenched nature of racism, which effected in his pivotal theories of double consciousness, the color line, and the veil. Du Bois's impact extended into civil rights activism and his push for social justice is reflected throughout his research and writing.