W.E.B. DuBois has been (and still is) dismissed as a one-dimensional heretic revolutionary, dismissed because he confronted the indisputable truth that there is no basis for the hypocrisy of racism and true Christian beliefs.
Author Edward J. Blum gives the facts of DuBois’ evolving view of religion without making any judgments on the sometimes conflicting opinions he expressed. Who among us can proclaim never having questioned religiosity forced down our throats? As a white woman who was raised Southern Baptist, I jumped the ship of exclusionary religion as a teenager.
Blum’s book shows a tireless devotion to research and fearless reporting of it even when it leaves the reader quizzically scratching their head, still wondering what DuBois truly believed. The point of this book and DuBois’ life is that the genesis of truth often remains a mystery. A further point is ultimately neither that nor anything else those made uncomfortable by it changes the truth.
What is not a mystery is that with W.E.B. Du Bois, American Prophet, Blum gives all history buffs, religious seekers and racial equality champions powerful ammunition in the war on intolerance. God bless you, Mr. Blum, for a thought-provoking, invaluable piece of literature.