W. E. B. Du Bois and The Atlanta Sociological Laboratory

The Sociological Insight of W.E.B. Du Bois

“…As the white pioneers of the incipient field of sociology were seeking academic respect, an identity and an appropriate theoretical base by which to study social phenomena, Du Bois was shaping the new field of sociology into an independent social science based on his empirical research and pronouncements about the study of society, social groups, and social phenomena. While his community‐based, empirical sociology which particularly addressed the “truth” about racial inequality offered a perspective that “the Chicago School” and American sociology eventually chose to follow, the existence of academic apartheid contributed to the field's failure to recognize his pioneering efforts (Green and Wortham ; Morris ; Rabaka ; Wright ).…”

“…Du Bois was tending to the flower garden at Atlanta University well before anyone had heard of the Chicago School. Many, including Gabbidon (), Wright (), and Morris (), among others would loudly contest Bulmer's assertion. Again, Du Bois’ insistence that 1) sociology be practiced as an empirical science which studies human behavior, 2) his emphasis on limited, small studies, and 3) the use of a variety of research methods, including social surveys and existing data all precede the Chicago School.…”

“…Today, there are well over a dozen books and dozens of scholarly articles focusing on some aspect of Du Bois’ sociology, and several scholars have recently made strong arguments justifying his preeminent role in the development of American sociology (Gabbidon ; Green and Wortham ; Morris ; Wright ). In fact, there is sufficient evidence that Du Bois established the first school of sociology in the United States at Atlanta University, predating the “Chicago School” by approximately twenty years (Gabbidon ; Morris ; Wright , , , ; Wright and Calhoun ).…”

Academic apartheid and the poverty of theory: the impact of scholarly segregation on the development of sociology in the United States

“…Despite the widespread appreciation of both its pioneering methods and its substantive importance, Du Bois was refused a tenure track appointment at the University of Pennsylvania and rejected by all other established sociology departments. He accepted a position as the first sociologist at (the historically black) Atlanta University, where he established the Atlanta Sociological Laboratory that would become the most productive sociological centre in the United States during the first decade of the twentieth century (Morris : 125; Wright ).…”

“…Yet in this sweeping mechanistic interpretation there is no room for the real plot of the story, for the clear mistake and guilt of rebuilding a new slavery as the first sociologist at (the historically black) Atlanta University, where he established the Atlanta Sociological Laboratory that would become the most productive sociological centre in the United States during the first decade of the twentieth century (Morris 2015: 125;Wright 2016).…”