Art in Crisis

“The Crisis” was an integral element of the struggle to combat racism in America. As editor of the magazine (1910-1934), W. E. B. Du Bois addressed the important issues facing African Americans. He used the journal as a means of racial uplift, celebrating the joys and hopes of African American culture and life, and as a tool to address the injustices black Americans experienced – the sorrows of persistent discrimination and racial terror, and especially the crime of lynching. The written word was not sufficient. Visual imagery was central to bringing his message to the homes of readers and emphasizing the importance of the cause. Art was integral to his political program. “Art in Crisis: W. E. B. Du Bois and the Struggle for African American Identity and Memory” reveals how W. E. B. Du Bois created a “visual vocabulary” to define a new collective memory and historical identity for African Americans.