October, 1996
DUBOIS 

AFRICAN-AMERICAN SCHOLAR AND POLITICAL ACTIVIST W-E-B 
DUBOIS (DU-BOYS) HAD AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON THE STRUGGLE FOR CIVIL
RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES.  HE WAS AMONG THE FOUNDERS OF THE 
(U-S CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION) NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE 
ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE -- THE N-DOUBLE-A-C-P.  HE SPENT 
THE LAST TWO YEARS OF HIS LIFE IN GHANA AND IS BURIED IN THAT 
WEST AFRICAN NATION. 

IN A SUBURB OF ACCRA, THE CAPITAL OF GHANA, IS A PLEASANT 
HOUSE SURROUNDED BY PALM TREES AND FILLED WITH BOOKS. MANY OF 
THE VOLUMES CHART THE HISTORY OF PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT IN THE
UNITED STATES.  SCHOLAR W-E-B DUBOIS LIVED IN THIS HOUSE FROM 
1961 UNTIL HE DIED TWO YEARS LATER, AT THE AGE OF 95.  

THE HOUSE IS NOW CALLED THE W-E-B DUBOIS MEMORIAL CENTER FOR PAN 
AFRICAN CULTURE -- AND IS OPERATED AS A MUSEUM AND SEMINAR CENTER
BY THE GOVERNMENT.

BORN IN 1868 IN (THE NORTHEASTERN U-S STATE OF) MASSACHUSETTS, 
MR. DUBOIS TRACED HIS HERITAGE TO THE BAHAMAS, HAITI, AND, 
ULTIMATELY, TO AFRICA.

HE IS REGARDED AS THE FATHER OF PAN-AFRICANISM, A MOVEMENT THAT 
ATTEMPTS TO UNITE ALL PEOPLE OF AFRICAN ANCESTRY NO MATTER WHERE 
THEY LIVE.

ONE OF THE GUIDES AT THE MUSEUM (DANIEL AGBDYCHIAWO) SAYS MR. 
DUBOIS HAD MANY TALENTS.

         HE WAS A HISTORIAN, A JOURNALIST, A POET, A WRITER, AND 
         THE REST.  HE WROTE 20 BOOKS.

MUCH OF MR. DUBOIS' LIFE WAS SPENT BATTLING RACIAL INEQUALITY. 
THE MUSEUM GUIDE SAYS MR. DUBOIS HELD THE UNITED STATES 
ACCOUNTABLE FOR TREATING THE DESCENDENTS OF SLAVES BADLY.

         DR. DUBOIS WAS A LIFE-LONG CRITIC OF THE AMERICAN 
         SOCIETY AND GOVERNMENT.  WE KNOW HE DEVOTED ALL HIS TIME
         PREACHING AGAINST RACISM AND FIGHTING FOR THE FREEDOM OF
         BLACKS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THROUGH HIS EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PAN-AFRICANISM, W-E-B DUBOIS MET 
KWAME NKRUMAH, THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF GHANA. MR. NKRUMAH ASKED 
MR. DUBOIS TO MOVE TO THE WEST AFRICAN NATION AND BEGIN WORK ON 
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA AFRICANA, A PROJECT CHRONICLING THE HISTORY OF 
AFRICAN DESCENDANTS.

THE SCHOLARSHIP OF W-E-B DUBOIS IS MUCH IN EVIDENCE AT THE 
CENTER.  AMMAUNUEL GAWUGA IS ITS DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH.

         I CAN CITE "THE SOULS OF BLACK FOLK," WHICH IS VERY, 
         VERY POPULAR WITH AFRICAN-AMERICANS. AND THEN, "THE 
         PHILADELPHIA NEGRO," AND A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER BOOKS.  
         IN FACT, WE HAVE THE ENTIRE DUBOIS COLLECTION.

AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN, REMEL (RE-MELL) MOORE, IS THE CENTER'S 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. SHE SAYS THE MUSEUM DEMONSTRATES THE LATE 
SCHOLAR'S GLOBAL CONCEPTS.

         THIS IS A SYMBOL OF THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES
         AND BETWEEN THE PEOPLES. HE WAS NOT JUST A 
         PAN-AFRICANIST, HE WAS A PERSON OF PEACE. AND THAT WAS 
         REALLY THE LARGER STORY ABOUT HIM.

W-E-B DUBOIS IS BURIED NEXT TO THE REMAINS OF HIS WIFE IN A TOMB 
BUILT ON THE GROUNDS OF THE CENTER. IT IS AN APPROPRIATE FINAL 
RESTING PLACE FOR A MAN WHO SOUGHT TO BRING TOGETHER BLACK 
AMERICANS WITH THEIR AFRICAN COUNTERPARTS.

Source: Voice of America


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