Who was the first African American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard University?

• A. Frederick Douglass
• B. W.E.B. Du Bois
• C. Paul Laurence Dunbar
• D. Carter G. Woodson

Answer: (B)

W.E.B. Du Bois was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University, achieving this significant milestone in 1895. His dissertation, titled "The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America, 1638-1870," made a notable contribution to the historical understanding of slavery and its implications in the United States.

Du Bois’s achievement was groundbreaking, as he not only became the first African American to hold this degree from Harvard but also emerged as a leading intellectual and civil rights activist, co-founding the NAACP and advocating for the rights and education of African Americans. His work laid the foundation for future scholars and activists and remains influential in discussions about race, sociology, and education in America.

This context highlights the importance of his accomplishment—W.E.B. Du Bois was not only a pioneer in academia but also a significant figure in the broader struggle for civil rights, making his Ph.D. a marker of progress and opportunity in a time when African Americans faced immense barriers to education and equality.