Final answer:
W.E.B. Du Bois was the first to recognize and articulate the concept of double consciousness, which described the dual identity experienced by African Americans, as expressed in his 1903 work, 'The Souls of Black Folk'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first person to recognize how double consciousness affected African Americans was W.E.B. Du Bois. His seminal work, 'The Souls of Black Folk' published in 1903, introduced the concept of double consciousness as a part of the African American experience. This concept refers to the internal conflict individuals feel when they identify with both African heritage and American nationality, compounded by the perception of being seen through the prejudiced lens of a dominant white society.
Double consciousness explores the idea that African Americans have a dual identity as both African and American, leading to a prolonged sense of 'twoness'. Du Bois argued that Black individuals see themselves not only through their own perspective but also through the eyes of a society that views them with 'amused contempt and pity'. This leads to an internal struggle as they strive for both self-identity and societal acceptance.
Du Bois's contributions have had a profound and lasting impact on sociological studies regarding race and identity. His insights into the effects of racism and the importance of protest and agitation for civil rights have influenced both his contemporaries and subsequent generations of sociologists and civil rights activists.