W. E. B. Du BoisAmerican sociologist, historian, civil rights advocate, and author William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (1868–1963) was a pivotal figure in the early 20th century African American civil rights movement. His seminal work, "The Souls of Black Folk," which xplores the African American experience in the United States after the Civil War, made him the first African American to get a Ph.D. from Harvard University. In addition, Du Bois worked as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's (NAACP) director of research and editor of The Crisis magazine. His whole life was devoted to the pursuit of racial equality, the dismantling of white supremacy, and the promotion of full political, economic, and social rights for African Americans. Read More Read Less