University of Massachusetts (Amherst

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This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Scholar, author, editor, teacher, reformer, and civil rights leader, W. E. B. Du Bois was a deeply influential figure in American life and one of the earliest proponents of equality for African Americans. He was a founder and leader of the Niagara Movement; the NAACP, and the Pan-African Movement; a progenitor of the 1920's Harlem Renaissance; an advocate of anti-colonialism, anti-imperialism, unionism, and equality for women; and a champion of the right of oppressed people around the world. To mark the 50th anniversary of Du Bois's death, The University Museum of Contemporary Art (UMCA) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst commissioned ten leading artists from the United States, Canada, and West Africa to create original work that reflects on Du Bois's legacy and reconsiders him in light of today's issues. In all, ten artists delved into the vast Du Bois archives at UMass Amherst and consulted with Du Bois scholars both on and off campus as they conceived of their work. The new pieces created by Radcliffe Bailey, Mary Evans, Brendan Fernandes, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Julie Mehretu, Ann Messner, Jefferson Pinder, Tim Rollins and KOS, Mickalene Thomas, and Carrie Mae Weems were displayed in an exhibition titled Du Bois in Our Time. The range of artworks they produced is astounding -- including photography, painting, sculpture, works on paper, video installations, as well as a proposal to create a memorial garden in honour of Du Bois. Some artists were inspired by Du Bois's poems, some by his early anticipation of women's rights and the environmental movement, some by his warnings against nuclear proliferation. Others found inspiration in the groundwork he laid for movements of public dissent, while others showed that the issues Du Bois worked on a century ago are still with us, and in certain cases more urgent than ever. This catalog contains selected images from the exhibition, statements from the artists testifying to the inspiration and impact Du Bois has had on their lives and work, an essay by Johnnetta Cole, and an introduction by Loretta Yarlow, director of the University Gallery.