Final answer:
The 'talented tenth' refers to the top ten percent of African Americans whom W.E.B. DuBois believed should lead the fight for racial equality and social change, through higher education and cultural development. DuBois expected these educated individuals, supported by the NAACP which he co-founded, to elevate the black race.
Step-by-step explanation:
The talented tenth is a term coined by W.E.B. DuBois in his essay 'The Talented Tenth.' It refers to the top ten percent of African Americans that DuBois believed were destined to become the leaders and catalysts for social and political change within the black community. As a prominent intellectual and civil rights activist, DuBois emphasized the importance of higher education, leadership skills, and cultural development for this elite group. He rejected the vocational training focus suggested by Booker T. Washington and maintained that a rigorous academic program was vital for the progress of African Americans.
DuBois expected help from educated African Americans to lift up the race, with support from organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) which he co-founded and for which he also served as the director of publications. His fight for racial equality also manifested through his leadership in the Niagara Movement, which called for the end of racial discrimination and the civil liberties of African Americans. Throughout his life, DuBois passionately worked to oppose inequality and promote the cultural and intellectual development of the black race.