W. E. B. Du Bois

2025

W. E. B. Du Bois’s early works are in the public domain worldwide. Though he died in 1963, many of his books—including The Souls of Black Folk (1903)—are in the public domain in the United States because they were published before 1929. In Europe, they are also in the public domain due to the “rule of the shorter term” applied to foreign works. In Mexico, the country with the world’s longest term (life + 100), they will enter the public domain in 2063. Let’s celebrate public domain literature!

W. E. B. Du Bois (1868–1963) was an American sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist known for his pioneering work on race and inequality. His book The Souls of Black Folk introduced the concept of “double consciousness,” shaping discussions on racial identity. A co-founder of the NAACP, he advocated for Black empowerment through education and activism. Many of his works are now in the public domain.

W. E. B. Du Bois

The Souls of Black Folk

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