Crossing the Veil: A Young W.E.B. DuBois in Rural Tennessee

W.E.B. DuBois encountered the realities of postReconstruction life in the rural South during his summers working as a teacher in a seasonal African American school in Alexandria, Tennessee. This lesson plan explores how DuBois’s experiences as a student at Fisk University and his time teaching in rural middle Tennessee shaped his understanding of the challenges facing African Americans and his ideas for uplifting the race. Students will examine how generational viewpoints differed within African American communities and how race relations varied in the different locations that DuBois lived during this early period in his life.

Weblink address (URL): 
Crossing the Veil: A Young W.E.B. DuBois in Rural Tennessee
Home Page for the Lesson Plan- Source

Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives: 

The student will be able to:

  • Explain the racial interactions and relationships DuBois experienced from the northern city to rural Tennessee.
  • Explain the historical context of the New South period using excerpts from Henry Grady.
  • Analyze a political cartoon and picture to understand the importance of industry and labor in the New South.
  • Analyze primary source excerpts from DuBois to understand his thought processes about how to improve the African American community.
  • Compare and contrast the differences in rural white schools and rural black schools to understand the development of rural education.
Essential and guiding questions: 

According to DuBois, how did the “Veil” hinder “Progress” for African Americans?

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Applying
Extension suggestions: 
  • Compare and Contrast teaching contracts: Students will analyze W.E.B. Du Bois’ Southern teaching contract with that of a Northern white woman from the same time period. Students will complete the questions to determine the differences and similarities in the teaching certificates.
  • Niagara Movement and NAACP: Students will study the exhibit, paying particular attention to the Prelude section, to determine what W.E.B. Du Bois was trying to achieve for African Americans through the NAACP. Students can speculate about the method that the organization planned to use for African Americans to gain their legal rights. How did this method compare with DuBois’s writing that students read in this lesson? 

Helpful Hints

MATERIALS:

  • PowerPoint: DuBois Background
  • Henry Grady reading excerpt
  • Rural schools images
  • Compare and contrast graphic organizer
  • Reading excerpts with questions (pgs. 6-9)