Double consciousness is a theory developed by Du Bois to explain how African Americans lived with an intangible barrier, or “veil,” that influenced their perceptions of society. This article focuses on the way that this theory can be used to advance sociological theories of self-formation.
Classical theorists of social theory, including William James, George Herbert Mead, and Charles Horton Cooley, based their theories of self-formation on acts of communication and mutual recognition between people in a society. The theory of double consciousness fills a gap that these theorists had not yet addressed.
The Veil
The veil was an institutional construct that shaped how African Americans perceived their lives. This veil represented the de jure and de facto racial discrimination that African Americans experienced in all aspects of society in the early 20th century United States.
This veil created two separate worlds: the Black and White (American) worlds. It also prevented African Americans from fully integrating as socio-cultural citizens.
Moreover, it prevented Whites from seeing African Americans as human beings. This was particularly true when they viewed African Americans’ faces.
Du Bois’s theory of double consciousness explains the ways in which a lack of communication and mutual recognition between racialized and racializing subjects affects self-formation in a racialized society.
Ultimately, double consciousness is a social psychological lens that develops from the racist and xenophobic treatment that racialized individuals receive from larger institutions, structures, and interpersonal interactions in the racialized society. This lens shapes how a racialized individual views their life and how they view the larger society.
Twoness
Double consciousness, the idea that black people have an enduring hyphenation between two sets of ideals or strivings, is central to Du Bois’s conception of the Negro’s social condition. It is a complex feeling that involves disparate and competing "thoughts," “strivings,” and “ideals.”
The concept of double consciousness first appears in Du Bois’s 1903 text, Souls. It does not reappear in his subsequent writings, but it does have a significant role in developing the racialized modernity of his time.
In the "Of Our Spiritual Strivings" passage in Souls, Du Bois identifies a particular form of double consciousness that results from the internalisation of the contempt white America has for Black people. This gives rise to a second, more positive, sense of double consciousness that, Du Bois argues, comes into being as the result of Black people’s experiences of a racist society.
Second Sight
Du Bois' theory of double consciousness reflects his understanding of how those in the minority see and understand their oppressor in a different light than their dominant counterparts. He argues that the ability to see the world in this way develops agency and insight for those living under oppression.
Second sight is a special psychic ability in which people are able to see visions of future events. These may take the form of direct or symbolic representations, such as seeing funeral processions or death shrouds.
Traditionally, it has been believed that second sight runs in some families and is hereditary, based on detailed accounts from the 17th century onwards and reports collected by folklorists and ethnologists.
Researchers have been interested in the prevalence of this psychic ability and how it varies among different age groups, occupations and ethnicity. They have conducted a study to explore these factors, using questionnaire and interview methods.
Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is a belief about one's value and worth. It affects many aspects of life, from your career and relationships to your mental health.
There are many ways to boost your self-esteem, including a regular exercise routine, eating a healthy diet and being assertive with others. These activities can be difficult at first, but they will help you build your confidence and self-esteem over time.
However, there are some people whose self-esteem is too high or “over-inflated” in proportion to their accomplishments and actions. These people think well of themselves and can point to substantial past accomplishments and actions that support this high opinion.
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