Early Du Bois’s black nationalism borrowed Crummell’s mysticism, authoritarianism, and civilizationism.

Evidence

The classical black nationalist traits of mysticism, authoritarianism, civilizationism and collectivism were strong elements in “The Conservation of Races.” Du Bois called upon the Academy to exercise a firm leadership and to become “the epitome and expression of the intellect of the black-blooded people of America.” The black leaders were not to organize for such mundane purposes as the stealing of political spoils, nor “merely to protest and pass resolutions.” Black leadership should be united in its efforts to improve the black masses, to fight against loafing, gambling, crime, and prostitution … to strive for “the rearing of a race ideal in America and Africa, to the glory of God and the uplifting of the Negro people.” — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 896

Categorization

• DEFINE: Naming the four constituent traits of classical black nationalism (mysticism, authoritarianism, civilizationism, collectivism) usefully defines the tradition’s early ideological toolkit.