Coming of John W. E. B. Dubois Analysis
The veil is symbolic of ignorance. John was oppressed but didn’t know it. After returning home from the north he sees his world like he never saw it before, and his old world sees how much he’s changed. This is evident with this narration “He grew slowly to feel almost for the first time the Veil that lay between him and the white world; he first noticed now the oppression that had not seemed oppression before, differences that erstwhile seemed natural, restraints and slights that in his boyhood days had gone unnoticed or been greeted with a laugh. He felt angry now when men did not call him “Mister,” he clenched his hands at the “Jim Crow” cars, and chafed at the color-line that hemmed in him and his.” His new consciousness and level of knowledge allows him a certain regard of freedom from the rest of his race. This knowledge is indicative that he no longer identifies with his old traditions. This is evident when after returning home he gives a speech at the church in which he talks of the importance of education and learning, this idea is foreign to the people he is preaching to, however he did strike a critical nerve with the people after denouncing the need for baptism and religion. However some of the people see this and want to be educated, but are not in an environment and not cultured to do so. This is evident when her sister came to him after he was finished speaking at the church. “Long they stood together, peering over the gray unresting water. “John,” she said, “does it make everyone—unhappy when they study and learn lots of things?” He paused and smiled. “I am afraid it does,” he said.“And, John, are you glad you studied?” “Yes,” came the answer, slowly but positively. She watched the flickering lights upon the sea, and said thoughtfully, “I wish I was unhappy, —and—and,” putting both arms about his neck, “I think I am, a little, John.” Being unhappy in this context means being wise, she recognizes that her brother has become educated and wise to