Du Bois depicts a world where black folk are prejudiced against, yet are still constantly discussed: white people decide black folk are “a problem” and refuse to interact with them but continue to ponder on what it is like to be discriminated against. Being both physically and mentally discriminated appears throughout the excerpt, elucidating how racism has not only an effect on the environment but also an effect on how victims perceive themselves and their capabilities. Du Bois names this mental division as “the veil”, the constant presence of psychological racism, resulting in a “double consciousness” — where someone sees themselves as the world perceives them and as they perceive themselves. As a young white woman reading this piece I cannot help but notice the carefully constructed language Du Bois uses to appeal to a white audience while honoring the issues of the black folk.
