"Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil" is a book written by William Edward Burghardt Du Bois, an American sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, and writer. The book was first published in 1920 and is a collection of essays, poems, and sketches that reflect on the experiences of African Americans in the United States.
The title of the book, "Darkwater," refers to the "veil" that Du Bois believes separates African Americans from white Americans. This veil is a metaphor for the racial divide in American society and the ways in which black people are excluded from full participation in American life.
The essays in "Darkwater" cover a wide range of topics, including the history of slavery and the Jim Crow era, the role of religion in African American communities, the relationship between black people and the natural world, and the struggles of black women. The book also includes several personal essays in which Du Bois reflects on his own experiences as a black man in America.
"Darkwater" is considered a groundbreaking work in African American literature and is widely regarded as one of Du Bois's most important books. The themes and ideas explored in the book continue to be relevant today and have influenced generations of writers and activists.