Image credit: The Kennedy Center
Born in 1868 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, W.E.B. Du Bois was one of the most visionary thinkers and global activists of the 20th century. A pioneering scholar, writer, and civil rights leader, he was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard and a lifelong advocate for racial justice, democracy, and global liberation. His groundbreaking 1903 book The Souls of Black Folk introduced the concept of “double consciousness,” and his co-founding of the NAACP in 1909 reshaped the national discourse on race, education, and equality.
Now, Du Bois is being permanently honored in his hometown with the unveiling of a life-size bronze statue at the Mason Public Library on Saturday, July 19, 2025. Created by artist Richard Blake, the sculpture sits atop a curved marble bench, designed to invite reflection, conversation, and connection to Du Bois’s enduring legacy. The site also features a newly renovated plaza and accessible space, developed with support from community organizations and the MA250 initiative.
Image credit: W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project
The unveiling marks the beginning of the fourth annual Du Bois Forum, a weekend of programming across the Berkshires that celebrates Black intellectual and artistic traditions and honors Du Bois’s revolutionary vision. From walking tours and performances to panel discussions and public talks, the forum brings together artists, scholars, and residents to reflect on the local and global impact of Du Bois’s life and work.
As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, this moment highlights the significance of who we choose to commemorate and why. In the words of Embrace Boston CEO Imari Paris Jeffries, a project partner and co-chair of the Everyone250 campaign, “Redefining how we memorialize our past and whose stories are told will be critical as we respond to the present and shape our future.”
Du Bois closed his life as a citizen of Ghana, but his roots and revolutionary ideals remain planted firmly in Massachusetts. This statue ensures that future generations can sit with him, learn from him, and continue the work he began so powerfully.
