The Talented Tenth

The Talented Tenth was an influential article written by W. E. B. Du Bois and published in September 1903. It appeared as the second chapter of "The Negro Problem", a collection of articles by African Americans (New York: James Pott and Company, 1903).

The phrase "talented tenth" originated in 1896 among Northern white liberals, specifically the American Baptist Missionary Home Society, which had the goal of establishing black colleges to train Negro teachers and elites. (1)

Du Bois used the term "the talented tenth" to describe the likelihood of one in ten black men becoming leaders of their race in the world, through methods such as continuing their education, writing books, or becoming directly involved in social change. He believed they needed a classical liberal education to reach their true destiny as what would in the 20th century be called public intellectuals:

"Men we shall have only as we make manhood the object of the work of the schools — intelligence, broad sympathy, knowledge of the world that was and is, and of the relation of men to it — this is the curriculum of that Higher Education which must underlie true life. On this foundation we may build bread winning, skill of hand and quickness of brain, with never a fear lest the child and man mistake the means of living for the object of life." [ [http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=174 W.E.B. Du Bois, "The Talented Tenth" (text)] , Sep 1903, Teaching American History, accessed 3 Sep 2008]

In his later life, W.E.B. Dubois recognized that leadership could arise from many levels, and grassroots efforts were also important to social change. His stepson David Du Bois tried to publicize those views, writing in 1972 of: "Dr. Du Bois’ conviction that it’s those who suffered most and have the least to lose that we should look to for our steadfast, dependable and uncompromising leadership." [Joy James, "Transcending the Talented Tenth: Black Leaders and American Intellectuals", New York: Routledge, 1997]

Notes

External links

* [http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=174 W.E.B. Du Bois, "The Talented Tenth" (text)] , Teaching American History