America Quote by W. E. B. Du Bois
“Raphael painted, Luther preached, Corneille wrote, and Milton sang; and through it all, for four hundred years, the dark captives wound to the sea amid the bleaching bones of the dead: for four hundred years the sharks followed the scurrying ships; for four hundred years America was strewn with the living and dying millions of a transplanted race; for four hundred years Ethiopia stretched forth her hands unto God.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Souls of Black Folk, 1903
A sweeping lament of centuries of oppression, displacement, and suffering endured by Black peoples worldwide, invoking biblical imagery of pleading for divine aid.
In simple terms: Centuries of Black suffering and yearning for divine help.
Key Takeaway
Recognize historic pain and seek justice.
Themes
oppression
history
spirituality
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
historical
poetic
When to use this quote
- civil rights activism
- educational curricula
- memorial events
- interfaith dialogues
Key Concepts
colonialism
diaspora
resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we honor specific histories while seeing common struggles?
- What role does faith play in resistance?
A Different Perspective
The quote generalizes diverse experiences, risking oversimplification.
![“Rev. [Martin Luther] King continued, chanting, singing his prophetic litany. We were one people, indivisible in the sight of God, responsible to each other and for each other. We, the black people, the most displaced, the poorest, the most maligned and scourged, we had the glorious task of…” quote by Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eb2/maya-angelou-104_african-americans_rev-martin-luther-king-continued-chantin_2784543.jpg)
![“I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. [salutes]” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d2/bill-hicks-970_america_i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumor_655.jpg)
