The black sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois was an early contributor to sociology on theories related to race and the effects of racial discrimination. He is well known for several important works and theories, including his theory of double consciousness. In this essay, please explain the concept of double consciousness. What are some of the consequences of people who possess double consciousness? How might this be applied to race relations today?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

but should include an explanation of double consciousness: the sense of “two-ness” of related to belonging to two categories simultaneously that are not completely in agreement with one another, where one places the person within the dominant group and the other category places them outside of it. Being an American and being an African American in the case of black people in the United States is the primary example, but this could be applied to other groups or countries where one identity is considered a dominant category and the other is a minority category. A potential negative consequence of a double consciousness is a sense of tension for the individual between two thoughts or two ideas. However, a positive outcome is that this can produce unique insights about being in either the marginal or the dominant category, or about society in general.