a white woman goes into an upscale shop to look at clothes. she is excited to see that there is a sale and gathers a huge pile of clothes to take into the dressing room. an african american woman goes into the store and is also excited about the sale but, at the same time, hesitates to take too many clothes into the dressing room because she is afraid the staff will accuse her of shoplifting. w. e. b. dubois would say that the african american woman has
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W.E.B. Du Bois’ perspective on the situation:
W.E.B. Du Bois, a prominent civil rights activist and scholar, would likely view the hesitation of the African American woman to take too many clothes into the dressing room due to fear of being accused of shoplifting as a result of racial discrimination and the persisting racist stereotypes that exist in society.
Du Bois argued that African Americans experience a “double consciousness,” meaning they are constantly aware of how they are perceived by others. They often face prejudice, discrimination, and unequal treatment due to their race. In this scenario, the African American woman’s hesitation reflects the internal conflict she experiences because she knows she is being judged based on stereotypes and is concerned about being treated unfairly.
Du Bois would most likely criticize the racial bias and implicit discrimination that the African American woman is subjected to. He would argue that such incidents highlight the ongoing struggles faced by African Americans in achieving equal treatment and dismantling the racial hierarchy that exists in society. Du Bois called for the recognition of the humanity and equal worth of all individuals, regardless of their race, and advocated for social and political changes to address these systemic issues.