What did the concept of the 'Talented Tenth' refer to in Du Bois's philosophy?

• A. The top 10 percent of educated African Americans who would lead in social and political integration
• B. The bottom 10 percent of African Americans who faced greatest obstacles
• C. A hypothetical group of scholars with no real-world impact
• D. The entire African American population achieving parity

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that Du Bois believed a small, highly educated Black elite should lead the race to progress. The Talented Tenth refers to the top 10 percent of educated African Americans who would use their learning and professional influence to push for social advancement and civil rights, guiding the rest of the community toward greater opportunities.

This is the best answer because it captures the emphasis on leadership, education, and active participation in both social and political life as the driving force for progress. Du Bois saw educated leaders—scholars, professionals, and thinkers—as capable of advocating for rights, challenging segregation, and showing that Black Americans could contribute meaningfully to American society.

Others don’t fit because they misrepresent the plan or the scale: focusing on the bottom segment ignores the leadership role; imagining a group with no real-world impact contradicts the idea of using education to influence society; and aiming for parity for the entire population at once ignores the proposed mechanism of leadership and uplift through an educated elite.