Talented Tenth: Essay by W.E.B. Du Bois

W.E.B. Du Bois African American studies / History Essay

Summary

W.E.B. Du Bois's essay "The Talented Tenth," published in 1903, advocates for the education and leadership of a small, intellectually elite segment of the African-American community. He argues that this group, comprising about one-tenth of the population, should be educated in the classics at universities to become leaders who can uplift the entire race through education and moral responsibility. Du Bois's essay was a counter to Booker T. Washington's emphasis on industrial education, emphasizing instead the importance of higher education for social progress and racial equality.

Contexts & frameworks

W.E.B. Du Bois’ essay "The Talented Tenth" was crafted in a time of significant social upheaval and transformation for African Americans. It reflects the broader discussions surrounding education and leadership that were crucial for navigating the challenges of a racially divided society.

Post-Reconstruction Backdrop

W.E.B. Du Bois wrote "The Talented Tenth" in 1903, during the post-Reconstruction era when African Americans were striving to improve their social and economic standing amidst severe racial discrimination and segregation. This period saw significant debate on how Black Americans should pursue progress and equality in a hostile society dominated by racist laws and attitudes. Du Bois emphasized the importance of higher education to uplift African Americans and provide leaders for the race.

Du Bois’ essay emerged as a direct response to Booker T. Washington’s Atlanta Compromise of 1895, which prioritized industrial education and accommodation to white supremacy. Du Bois rejected this approach, arguing instead for classical education to cultivate a “Talented Tenth,” a leadership class within the Black community that would lead political, professional, and cultural advancement. His vision was rooted in valuing liberal arts and higher education to empower African Americans as equals in society. His theory was influenced by philosophical ideas, including parallels to Plato's concept of philosopher-rulers who guide society wisely and justly. This elite group of educated leaders was expected to inspire and “leaven the lump” to benefit the broader Black population.

Education and Leadership Debates

The Talented Tenth concept became central to early 20th-century debates on Black education strategies. It highlighted tensions between vocational training advocated by Washington and the liberal arts education championed by Du Bois. Du Bois underscored educating teachers, ministers, lawyers, and professionals who could challenge racial inequality through leadership. The theory was originally shaped also in conversation with Northern white philanthropists’ ideas on Black progress. Over time, scholars debated whether the Talented Tenth was elitist or a practical framework to cultivate racial advancement through a capable, educated leadership core.

Themes and questions

The essay "Talented Tenth" by W.E.B. Du Bois explores important ideas about education and leadership within the African American community. It raises critical questions about the role of an educated elite in promoting racial progress and the responsibilities they hold towards their community.

Key themes

Education as a tool for racial uplift and leadership development.
Intellectual elitism through the “Talented Tenth” guiding broader Black progress.
Critique of vocational/industrial training in favor of classical higher education.
Collective responsibility of African American elites to serve their community.
Role of educated leaders in combating racial prejudice and inequality.

Motifs & problems

The essay uses the motif of education as a transformative light that can guide and uplift the African American community. Du Bois constructs the "Talented Tenth" as a symbolic elite group, representing hope, moral responsibility, and intellectual leadership. The crux is the tension between elitism and mass uplift, raising questions about access to education and the role of an elite in society. The contrast with Booker T. Washington’s vocational ideal further highlights conflicting visions of racial progress.

Study questions

How does Du Bois justify the need for an educated African American elite?
What are the potential risks and benefits of leadership by a select “Talented Tenth”?
How does Du Bois’s vision contrast with Booker T. Washington’s approach?
In what ways does Du Bois link education with moral responsibility?
How might Du Bois’s theory apply to social movements today?
What criticisms could be made about the exclusivity of the “Talented Tenth”?
How does Du Bois address racial prejudice in higher education?
To what extent does Du Bois envision the Talented Tenth as serving the broader community?

Interpretation, close reading & resources

In examining W.E.B. Du Bois's Talented Tenth, it is important to consider various critical approaches and debates that arise from his ideas. These perspectives help illuminate the complexities of his argument and the ongoing discussions surrounding its implications for leadership and race.

Critical approaches & debates

Scholars approach Du Bois's Talented Tenth essay through multiple lenses including Marxist, postcolonial, and formalist perspectives. Marxist critics highlight its class elitism and potential exclusion of the working-class Black masses, while postcolonial readings consider its role in contesting racial oppression and forging leadership amid systemic racism. Some feminist critiques note the gendered assumptions implicit in Du Bois’s male-focused leadership ideal. Debate continues over whether Du Bois’s proposal was an elitist theory privileging a Black aristocracy or a pragmatic, Plato-inspired vision of leadership essential to racial uplift. Disagreements center on the inclusivity and ethical implications of this elitism.

Key passages

Du Bois’s assertion, “The Negro race, like all races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men,” introduces his thesis that a highly educated “Talented Tenth” must guide the race. The metaphor of culture filtering "from the top downward" underscores why leadership by this elite is necessary—uplifting the whole race depends on their example and guidance. This argument shapes the essay’s call for rigorous higher education and moral character among this leadership.

Bibliography

Du Bois, W. E. B. The Talented Tenth, 1903 essay, foundational for African American leadership discourse. Related primary works include Du Bois’s The Souls of Black Folk (1903). Foundational studies: David Levering Lewis’s W.E.B. Du Bois: Biography; recent scholarship includes Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s critical essays on Du Bois’s leadership theories. The Analytic Archive of African American Thought provides context on ongoing interpretations.