The First Born

In Du Bois' "Souls of Black Folk", he dedicated an entire chapter to the passing of the first born. In this chapter Du Bois recognizes that even though slaves would grow to love their children, they do not fail to recognize that "within the veil" (170) their children are born. They know their children are Negros just like themselves, and are bound to face the same realities. For this reason, Du Bois said the death of the first born constitutes an "awful gladness" (173) in his heart, and his soul whispers, "not dead, not dead, but escaped; not bond, but free." (173) The first born will not have to grow up choked and deformed underneath the veil. Although unlikely, the first born is hoped to awaken without the influence of the veil. Unlike those that remain living, this deceased first born is not obliged to die in the bonds of slavery.