African Americans in the 1900s lived lives full of uncertainty. They were no longer slaves, but many were still considered inferior to the white race. However, in this tense time, there were men who sought to lead their race to new heights. One of these men was WEB Du Bois. Few have influenced the lives of African Americans like W. E. B. Du Bois. The vision he had for African Americans was one in which many had great hope. He looked for the day when his race finally had civil equality in every aspect of life. In Du Bois' time, African Americans may have been considered free but still lacked many civil liberties, which whites were easily granted. One of the biggest civil liberties that was missing was the right to vote. For Du Bois, voting for African Americans was one of his greatest hopes, he believed that “everything goes with the right to vote” (Niagara Movement 1). If African Americans could obtain this right, it would open the doors to other civil equalities. However this was not such an easy task, there were so many “flagrant…political scandals that respectable men began to leave politics alone” (Of the Sons of the Masters 5). African American men and women had been so humiliated by whites that voting for them had become a chore. Although the vision of the vote seemed hopeless, Du Bois spoke with the most important question of all: “Is it possible, and probable, that nine millions of men can make real progress in economic matters if they are deprived of the rights politicians” (The Souls of the Black People 5)? How could African Americans build their lives if they had no say? For Du Bois it was clear that the vote was essential, without it his people would not be able to enjoy...... middle of paper......all their daily freedoms, the African American people would finally be seen as equal to their white brothers and sisters. Works Cited Du Bois, WEB “Niagara Movement Speech.” Teaching American history. 2008. Network. October 20, 2011.Du Bois, WEB “President Harding and Social Equality.” Teaching American history. 2008. Network. 20 October 2011.Du Bois, WEB “The talented tenth”. Teaching American history. 2008. Network. October 20, 2011.Du Bois, WEB “Of the Sons of Masters and of Man” Teaching American History. 2008. Network. October 20, 2011. Du Bois, WEB “Chapter III: By Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others.” The souls of the black people. 1903. Bartleby.com. 2011. n. October 3, 2011. http://www.bartleby.com/114/3.html. Web. "Lynching in the Golden Age." Encyclopedia of American History: The Development of the Industrial United States. Volume VI. Database. Network. October 20. 2011.