THE NEGRO
W.E.B. Du Bois
New York: Holt, 1915
[Transcriber's Notes for e-book versions:
Hyphenation and accentuation are inconsistent, but are generally left as found in the edition used for transcription. This edition may or may not have completely replicated the 1915 edition of the book. Where changes have been made, they are noted below. If you are using this book for research, please verify any spelling or punctuation with another source.
A missing quotation mark was inserted at the beginning of this paragraph: "It is difficult to imagine that Egypt should have obtained it from Europe where the oldest find (in Hallstadt) cannot be of an earlier period than 800 B.C., or from Asia, where iron is not known before 1000 B.C., and where, in the times of Ashur Nazir Pal, it was still used concurrently with bronze, while iron beads have been only recently discovered by Messrs. G.A. Wainwright and Bushe Fox in a predynastic grave, and where a piece of this metal, possibly a tool, was found in the masonry of the great pyramid."]
CONTENTS
I AFRICA
II THE COMING OF BLACK MEN
III ETHIOPIA AND EGYPT
IV THE NIGER AND ISLAM
V GUINEA AND CONGO
VI THE GREAT LAKES AND ZYMBABWE
VII THE WAR OF RACES AT LAND'S END
VIII AFRICAN CULTURE
IX THE TRADE IN MEN
X THE WEST INDIES AND LATIN AMERICA
XI THE NEGRO IN THE UNITED STATES
XII THE NEGRO PROBLEMS
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING
MAPS
The Physical Geography of Africa
Ancient Kingdoms of Africa
Races in Africa
Distribution of Negro Blood, Ancient and Modern
THE NEGRO
TO A FAITHFUL HELPER M.G.A.
PREFACE
The time has not yet come for a complete history of the Negro peoples. Archæological research in Africa has just begun, and many sources of information in Arabian, Portuguese, and other tongues are not fully at our command; and, too, it must frankly be confessed, racial prejudice against darker peoples is still too strong in so-called civilized centers for judicial appraisement of the peoples of Africa. Much intensive monographic work in history and science is needed to clear mooted points and quiet the controversialist who mistakes present personal desire for scientific proof.
Nevertheless, I have not been able to withstand the temptation to essay such short general statement of the main known facts and their fair interpretation as shall enable the general reader to know as men a sixth or more of the human race. Manifestly so short a story must be mainly conclusions and generalizations with but meager indication of authorities and underlying arguments. Possibly, if the Public will, a later and larger book may be more satisfactory on these points.