[On Du Bois] Celebrated Negro scholar and organizer. 70…
![“[On Du Bois] Celebrated Negro scholar and organizer. 70 years old, but looks 50. Dusky face, grizzled goatee, nice wrinkles, big ears — prodigiously like a White Russian General in mufti played sympathetically by Emil Jannings. Piebald hands. Brilliant talker, with an old-world touch. Très…” quote by Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/cab/vladimir-nabokov-198_du-bois_on-du-bois-celebrated-negro-scholar-and_2643689.jpg)
““[On Du Bois] Celebrated Negro scholar and organizer. 70 years old, but looks 50. Dusky face, grizzled goatee, nice wrinkles, big ears — prodigiously like a White Russian General in mufti played sympathetically by Emil Jannings. Piebald hands. Brilliant talker, with an old-world touch. Très gentilhomme. Smokes special Turkish cigarettes. Charming and distinguished in other, more important, ways. Told me that when he went to England he was listed as “Colonel” on the Channel boat, because his name bore the addition “Col.” on his passport.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Du Bois combined scholarly rigor with a charismatic, worldly presence.
In simple terms: Du Bois blended intellect and charisma.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate the blend of scholarship and personality.
Themes
scholarship
charisma
identity
Mood
analytical
descriptive
Type
historical
biographical
When to use this quote
- academic lectures
- public speaking
- historical analysis
- biographical study
Key Concepts
cultural hybridity
personal branding
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a scholar charismatic?
- How does appearance affect perception?
A Different Perspective
May romanticize his persona.