I really enjoyed this passage that was given by W. E. B. DuBois. For one thing the content read easily, and I think the order in which DuBois presents his case is important to take note of. One of the very first things that DuBois does is point out how important it was for African Americas to understand their own history. Secondly, DuBois points out the challenges that had to be faced in the New World. And finally he states how mortality shaped the lives of African Americas. I think these are important things that are connected, because again, even after the emancipation proclamation, we continue to see common themes that African Americas had while in slavery. Going back to a few weeks ago, this address also made me think about Albert J. Raboteau’s Slave Religion again. Similarly, in his work, Rabouteau had used the case of use of the writings of runaway slave, William Grimes. This was used to support the idea that African Americans felt morally superior to their masters. Again, we are reminded that not everything was black and white. There were slaves that believed that the practice of slavery gave them a better understanding of mortality. As Grimes goes onto address, the same preachers that would preach peace, would whip slaves before going to services. Furthermore, DuBois uses the black church here as a symbol of the community. However, DuBois continues to assist that African Americas were able to carry old traditions with them. Although things became “Christianized”, African Americas were able to take the religion that DuBois states was made to make them submissive, and turn it into a tool of liberation for themselves in the end. DuBois also concludes that black and whites could “rise together” because of religion. For me anyway, the end kind of gave me MLK “I Have A Dream” speech vibes at the end of it.