Final answer:
W.E.B. Du Bois identifies the harshest critic of black life as the nameless prejudice that promotes disdain for all things black, leading to an entrenched sense of despair. This critic is deeply analyzed in Du Bois's concept of double consciousness, where black Americans are forced to see themselves through a society's contemptuous lens.
Step-by-step explanation:
W.E.B. Du Bois states that the harshest critic of black life is that nameless prejudice which extends beyond defense of civilization and promotes disdain for all things black. This form of criticism results in a pervasive sense of despair among black Americans, a condition Du Bois describes with great eloquence in his works dealing with the injustices and the internal struggle faced by African Americans.
In his seminal work, The Souls of Black Folk, Du Bois introduces the concept of double consciousness, where African Americans view themselves through the prism of a society that meets them with contempt and derision. This concept helps to explain the deep psychological impact that prejudice has on black life in America. Du Bois's analysis goes beyond mere academic dissection of social issues; he strives to reveal the emotional and existential plight faced by black Americans due to systematic discrimination and racism.
The veil that Du Bois refers to symbolizes the barrier created by racial discrimination, causing black Americans to lead lives separated from the opportunities available to white Americans. It is within this context of struggle against the veil and the broader societal forces, as described by Du Bois, that black Americans mount their critique against the harsh judgments placed upon them by a prejudiced society.