On W.E.B. Du Bois, Double Consciousness, and Racialized Modernity. An Interview with José Itzigsohn

Transilvania ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
José Itzigsohn ◽  
Ștefan Baghiu ◽  
Vlad Pojoga

The February issue of Transilvania journal hosts an interview with professor José Itzigsohn focusing on his activity within the field of sociology and his latest book with Karida L. Brown, on The Sociology of W. E. B. Du Bois. Racialized Modernity and the Global Color Line (New York University Press, 2020). It delves into Du Boisian sociology, “double consciousness” and racialized modernity, alongside contemporary decolonial perspectives and new studies and researchers in the field.

Author(s):  
Lawrie Balfour

This chapter positions Baldwin in relation to W. E. B. Du Bois and also expands notions of consciousness to discuss Baldwin’s ability to reach across and beyond the color line. The essay draws on the Du Boisian notion of double consciousness in order to establish a sense of general race consciousness. In doing so, Lawrie Balfour, and in turn Baldwin, challenge the notion that white supremacy was extinguished with slavery. It is significant in establishing Baldwin’s simultaneous appreciation yet careful delineating of community.


Transilvania ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 22-30
Author(s):  
Ștefan Baghiu

This article outlines W.E.B. Du Bois’s general sociological theory and literary activity in connection to the recent study of Jose Itzigsohn and Karida L. Brown, The Sociology of W.E.B. Du Bois. Racialized Modernity and the Global Color Line. It describes the role of Double Consciousness and Racialized Modernity within postcolonial and decolonial theory and explains how postcolonial Romanian studies have engaged with postcolonial theory by avoiding these concepts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 345
Author(s):  
Tiffany Joseph ◽  
Tanya Golash-Boza

In W.E.B. Du Bois’ Souls of Black Folk, he argued that the problem of the 20th century in the United States was the problem of the color line. Given that de facto and explicit racial discrimination persist, anti-immigrant rhetoric is intensifying, and legal status has become more salient, we argue Du Boisian theory remains relevant for understanding social and political cleavages in the 21st century United States. The intersection of race, ethnicity, and legal status or “racialized legal status” represents a new variation of Du Bois’ “color line,” due to how these statuses generate cumulative disadvantages and exclusion for citizens and immigrants of color, particularly the undocumented. We begin with a review of Du Bois’ double consciousness theory, highlighting the marginalization of African Americans. Next, we apply double consciousness to the 21st century U.S. context to empirically demonstrate parallels between 20th century African Americans and the marginalization faced today by people of color. We close with a discussion about how double consciousness enhances our understanding of citizenship and has also generated agency for people of color fighting for socio-political inclusion in the contemporary United States.


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