Final answer:
The underlying theme uniting the Sorrow Songs, according to W.E.B. Du Bois, is 4. hope for justice in life, characterized by the spiritual striving towards freedom and equality.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to W.E.B. Du Bois, the underlying theme that unites all of the Sorrow Songs is a hope for justice in life. Du Bois's analysis of these songs, as expressed in 'The Souls of Black Folk', highlights the enduring faith in liberty and justice among African Americans despite the harsh realities of slavery and subsequent struggles for civil rights. The songs are filled with both an acknowledgment of the oppressive reality and a profound sense of spiritual striving towards freedom, both in this life and beyond.
The underlying theme that unites all of the Sorrow Songs, according to Du Bois, is hope for justice in life. These songs served as a form of expression for enslaved African Americans, who saw Emancipation as the key to a promised land and a better future. The lyrics of the songs often conveyed a belief in the possibility of freedom and justice, providing a source of hope and inspiration for the African American community.