In “The League of Extraordinary Black Gentlemen,” Theodore R. Johnson argues that the W.E.B. DuBois construct of the Talented Tenth has not rid African Americans of a sense of double-consciousness. It is as burdensome, Mr. Johnson suggests, to be asked, “What does it feel like to be a part of the solution?” as it was to be asked, 100+ years ago, “What does it feel like to be part of the problem?”
Excerpt
“As an upper-middle-class black male, I am seen as part of the solution class tasked with rescuing my nation from its problem and my race from itself.”
I recommend that English teachers have their students read this excellent piece along with W.E.B. DuBois’s “Strivings of the Negro People.”