Honoring Leading Thinker W.E.B. DuBois

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African-American intellectual and historian W.E.B DuBois (1868 - 1963).

C. M. Battey/Getty Images

African-American intellectual and historian W.E.B DuBois (1868 - 1963).

February is Black History Month and Tell Me More observes the month with a series of short vignettes. In this installment, regular contributor Ron Christie shares his black history hero.

I'm Ron Christie, former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush and a frequent contributor to Tell Me More's Political Chat and Barbershop segments. I am honored to salute W.E.B. DuBois, as we celebrate Black History Month.

DuBois' storied life as a sociologist, historian and intellectual leader, as well as his invaluable contributions in pursuit of equality are often overlooked today. He was the first African- American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1895 and founder of the Niagara Movement, an organization that evolved into the NAACP.

His "Credo" is among his most widely read work. Here's an excerpt:

"I believe in Liberty for all men; the space to stretch their arms and their souls; the right to breathe and the right to vote, the freedom to choose their friends, enjoy the sunshine and ride on the railroads, uncursed by color; thinking, dreaming, working as they will in a kingdom of God and love. I believe in the training of children black even as white; the leading out of little souls into the green pastures and beside the still waters, not for pelf or peace, but for Life..."

I salute W.E.B. DuBois for his bravery, his insights and his belief that all men and women should be treated as equals at a time when being black and seeking such equality came with tremendous risk.