How did W. E. B. Du Bois help and hinder Jessie’s career?
Certainly, Du Bois was instrumental in Jessie’s career and in her writing, but I think she was a strong, determined woman who, with or without the help of Du Bois, would have succeeded.
He helped her by giving her a lot of responsibility . She was doing all the work of an editor, but he was taking credit for it and saying she couldn’t have done it without him. He never intended to make her editor and he wanted all the power and credit. He kept her down under his thumb by using his charms and sex. The saddest part is that she never became an editor and she was so capable.
He helped her career by giving her the job. He hindered her career by controlling how she did her job.
I think that he helped her career by being aware of her talent and providing her with opportunity at The Crisis and The Brownies Book. He hindered her by not giving her credit in public for all the work she did.
Du Bois was very controlling. He came off as a good guy, but in one on one relationships he was a bit of a bully. He did however give Jessie her job and a lot of responsibility and control there
Like your response, Ricki. She had it in her with or without DuBois.
Yes, and she came to realise her strengths and act on them with admirable courage.
I agree Joyce. He never intended to make her an editor. He wanted power and he had it over her didn’t he? She wanted to be an editor, he wanted or perhaps better said, needed sex. That was obvious when the reader becomes aware of his other mistresses.