Final answer:
Du Bois argued that African Americans must undertake psychological work to navigate their dual identities and resist oppressive structures. He called for maintaining dignity, striving for excellence, and fighting for civil rights, underlining this through concepts of double consciousness and the color line.
Step-by-step explanation:
W. E. B. Du Bois, in his sociological and literary work, discussed the complex psychological challenges faced by African Americans. He believed that to combat the institutionalized racism and disenfranchisement in America, Black psychological development was crucial. Specifically, through his concept of double consciousness, Du Bois described the inner turmoil African Americans felt as they navigated two identities: their African heritage and their American citizenship.
By laying out concepts like the veil, color line, and double consciousness in works such as The Souls of Black Folk, Du Bois underscored the psychological work that Blacks must undertake. This process involves a recognition and understanding of the racial realities they face, while also developing a sense of self that can resist and protest against these oppressive structures. It is a call to maintain dignity, strive for excellence, and fight for civic rights and human opportunities despite the pervasive racism that tries to confine them to a subordinate role.
Moreover, in response to leaders like Booker T. Washington, Du Bois emphasized the need for protest and agitation rather than submission, to push forward the battle for equality and civil rights. His belief was that by embracing their dual identities and challenging injustices, African Americans could enact societal changes necessary for true freedom and equality.