Episode 23: W.E.B. Du Bois: The Journey Begins, The Story Continues

Episode Summary

Journey to Great Barrington, Massachusetts, the birthplace of W.E.B. Du Bois, where one of America's greatest scholars, writers, and human rights advocates began his remarkable journey. In this special episode of Our Truth. Our History. Our Story., Rita Coburn takes listeners behind the scenes of W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With A Cause and shares how an unexpected conversation with Maya Angelou inspired her four-year journey to tell Du Bois's story. Joined by award-winning historian Chad L. Williams and fellow Du Bois Forum panelists Andrew Coles and Saida Grundy, this conversation explores the community that shaped Du Bois, the making of the documentary, and the enduring relevance of his ideas in today's world.

In This Episode

• Rita Coburn shares the personal journey that led her to create W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With A Cause.

• How Maya Angelou inspired Rita to learn more about Du Bois.

• Why Great Barrington was foundational in shaping Du Bois's life and worldview.

• Award-winning historian Chad L. Williams discusses Du Bois's deep connection to his hometown and the influence of place on his scholarship.

• Andrew Coles and Saida Grundy offer insights into Du Bois's enduring impact on American history and contemporary society.

• Behind-the-scenes stories from researching, writing, and producing the documentary.

• Why Du Bois's ideas about justice, democracy, and global human rights continue to resonate today.

Featured Speakers

• Rita Coburn – Director, Writer & Producer, W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With A Cause

• Andrew Coles – Executive Director, The Du Bois Forum

• Chad L. Williams – Award-winning historian; Samuel J. and Augusta Spector Professor of History and African and African American Studies, Brandeis University

• Saida Grundy – Associate Professor of Sociology and African American Studies, Boston University

Featured Locations

• Great Barrington, Massachusetts

• W.E.B. Du Bois Homesite

• Berlin, Germany

• Accra, Ghana

Featured Works

• W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With A Cause

• The Souls of Black Folk

• Writings of W.E.B. Du Bois

Key Themes

• Place and identity

• The making of a documentary

• Historical truth

• Black intellectual history

• Scholarship and activism

• The enduring legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois

Memorable Takeaway

As Rita reflects on the responsibility of telling Black history, she reminds us that documentary filmmaking is more than collecting facts—it's about carefully uncovering stories that have too often been overlooked. The challenge is to go from truth, to history, to power, ensuring that the past is faithfully explored so it can help shape a more informed future.

Watch

📺 Watch THS episode: https://youtu.be/uQkRLGCfN_g

Links & Resources

📆 Catch upcoming film events with Rita Coburn:
https://www.ritacoburn.com/upcoming-events

🎙️ Listen on the ALIVE Podcast Network
https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/our-...

🎧 Follow in your favorite podcast app
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📺 Watch Our Truth. Our History. Our Story on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@ritacoburn9240

🌐 Visit the Our THS website
https://www.ritacoburn.com/ths-podcast

Music by Damien Sebe - conversations - https://thmatc.co/?l=65EB71D7

Join the Conversation

What part of W.E.B. Du Bois's story surprised you the most? How has place shaped your own journey? Share your thoughts in the comments using #OurTHS.

About the Series

Hosted by Peabody and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Rita Coburn, Our Truth. Our History. Our Story. explores the people, places, and events that have shaped Black history and continue to influence our world today. Through compelling conversations with historians, artists, scholars, and changemakers, each episode connects history to the present and invites listeners to see familiar stories in new ways.

Next Week

The journey continues as we explore W.E.B. Du Bois's enduring legacy and why his ideas remain as relevant today as they were more than a century ago.

Production Credits

Host: Rita Coburn

Executive Producer: Andrew T. Carr

Communications Director & Producer: Christine Coburn Whack

Producer: H. Lee Whack