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William Edward Burghardt Du Bois, commonly known as W.E.B. Du Bois, was a prominent African American sociologist, historian, writer, and civil rights activist. Born on February 23, 1868, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Du Bois was the first African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard University. He co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and was a leading figure in the early civil rights movement. Du Bois' groundbreaking work, including "The Souls of Black Folk," challenged racial inequality and advocated for equal rights for African Americans. His legacy continues to inspire social justice movements worldwide. Du Bois passed away on August 27, 1963, in Accra, Ghana, where he became a citizen late in life.