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W.E.B. Du Bois is considered one of the most influential thinkers of the modern era—and yet, most of his legacy has been confined to his scholarly work within racial studies. A new book from Reiland Rabaka, an ethnic studies professor and the founding director of the Center for African & African American Studies, challenges that narrative, reframing Du Bois as a foundational figure in an important modern topic: intersectionality.

Intersectionality is the study of how social groupings like gender, race and class intersect and overlap, especially as they pertain to systems of oppression. This new book, Du Bois: A Critical Introduction, argues that, while not fully formed and a bit disjointed, Du Bois’ work was undeniably foundational for this contemporary concept.