William E.B. Du Bois was a pioneer as both a scholar and civil rights activist. In 1895, he became the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University.
Early Academic Achievements
Born in Massachusetts in 1868, Du Bois showed academic promise from a young age. He graduated as valedictorian of his high school class in 1884.
Du Bois then earned his bachelor’s degree from Fisk University, a historically Black college in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1890, he obtained a second bachelor’s degree from Harvard University.
He went on to study for two years at the University of Berlin in Germany before returning to the U.S. to teach at Wilberforce University in Ohio. This set the stage for his trailblazing achievement.
Earning the First Harvard Ph.D.
In 1895, Du Bois made history as the first African American to earn a Ph.D. degree from Harvard. His doctoral thesis was published as the first book by Harvard University Press.
By conducting advanced academic work and earning Harvard’s highest degree, Du Bois broke racial barriers in the field of higher education. He paved the way for other Black scholars.
Groundbreaking Scholar and Writer
Following his Ph.D., Du Bois held teaching positions at the University of Pennsylvania and Atlanta University. His research on urban African American life established him as a pioneer in the field.
Du Bois wrote prolifically, including his seminal 1903 work The Souls of Black Folk. He also co-founded the NAACP and edited their publication The Crisis for over 20 years.
Advocating for Global Equality
A lifelong activist, Du Bois challenged racial injustice and compromise. He embraced socialist views and campaigned globally for human rights.
In his later years, Du Bois focused on anti-imperialist and anti-colonialist efforts. He moved to Ghana in 1961 and worked on an encyclopedia of the African diaspora until his death in 1963.
As both a scholar and activist, Du Bois left an enduring legacy as a founder of African American studies and champion of civil liberties worldwide. His Harvard milestone marked the beginning of a pioneering career.
