Literary Landmarks: Du Bois Homesite
 W.E.B. Du Bois, who
lived in a now demolished house on this site during his boyhood, was
a voice that inspired African Americans to believe in themselves and
to fight for justice. Du Bois felt a special bond to the Great
Barrington property, which had been in his family for more than 200
years. The property was given to Du Bois as a 60th birthday gift in
1928. In the “House of the Black Burghardts” (1928) Du Bois
recalled his family’s ancestral home upon the Egremont Plain. First
purchased by his maternal great grandfather, Jackson Burghardt in
1795, the site remained within Du Bois’ family for six generations.
The homesite and the immediate land surrounding it was a veritable
community of intergenerational, free, land owning African
Americans.
For more information click here: Du Bois Homesite or here for
Books by
Du Bois ,
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