He was a slave who was freed. ... He painted a picture of a boy in a filthy room with torn and ragged clothes, reading a French book. ... Du Bois's research into the historical and sociological conditions of black Americans made him the most influential black intellectual of his time. His book The Souls of Black Folk written in 1903 is a powerful collection of essays, in which Du Bois describes the efforts of African- Americans to reconcile their African heritage with their pride in being U.S. citizens. ... Du bois felt that if the ignorant white man could vote so should the ignorant bla...

• Word Count: 919
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Through Hughes" works that included: poetry, short stories, novels, and political essays, Hughes brought his words to life and educated many people. ... His parents, James Hughes and Carolina Mercer Langston, separated when he was a very young boy in 1903. ... At night they would read him stories from such works from popular black authors such as W.E.B. ... They would also tell him stories of black history, and encourage him to try to make positive changes someday. ... Even as a young boy he was ready to take chances in life. ...

• Word Count: 1483
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School