Well-attended Tribute Features New Document Comments on `Philadelphia Negro’ Reissue
PHILADELPHIA — Some 500 persons gathered recently at the University of Pennsylvania to celebrate the life and scholarship of William Edward Burghardt Du Bois, and to view a new film chronicling his contributions to American scholarship. Du Bois, connection to the university is a notable one. It was there, in 1896, where he was commissioned to gather data for a study that resulted in the classic work, “The Philadelphia Negro.”
The new documentary, “W.E.B. Du Bois: A Biography In Four Voices,” served as the centerpiece of the meeting. it is comprised of archival film footage, audio recordings and photographs about Du Bois’ long and active life as a leading figure in 20th-century American history.
After viewing the film, University of Pennsylvania law professor Lani Guinier said, “The film was a beautiful and moving epic — not only about the life of a brilliant and important figure, but about the struggle of a people in the 20th century.”
