"The Criticism of Honest Opponents" and Our Heritage of Dissent

HUMANITIES SYMPOSIUM

In The Souls of Black Folk, W.E.B. DuBois asserted that "[h]onest and earnest criticism from those whose interests are most nearly touched, - criticism of writers by readers, of government by those governed, of leaders by those led, - this is the soul of democracy and the safeguard of modern society." Yet many political and corporate structures in contemporary U.S. culture discourage or prevent outright these beneficial types of criticism. Citing a number of especially literary examples, Curtis will discuss how, despite these obstacles, U.S. writers have historically pursued dissent, and how the responsibility to revive and preserve this heritage is incumbent upon all who would consider themselves citizens.