W. E. B. Du Bois’s Theory of Double Consciousness

Abstract

Scholars agree Du Bois’s theory of double consciousness represents a crucial contribution to the social psychology of racism literature. His theory describes three constructs: 1) the veil, 2) second sight, and 3) two-ness. The veil symbolizes the structure producing racial stratification; second sight taps knowledge of the veil through racial consciousness at the group or community level; and two-ness indicates Blacks’ feelings of identity tension arising from second-class citizenship. This extended research note describes development and validation of multiple-item survey measures of the perceived veil, second sight, and two-ness. Using data collected online in early 2024 from a national sample of 2,008 Black adults via the Prolific platform, common factor analyses suggest latent variables explain correlations among eight items indicating the perceived veil, six items indicating second sight, and five items indicating two-ness. Reliability analyses provide strong to modest support for the three constructs’ internal consistency. In the Discussion, we offer directions for future research utilizing these multiple-item survey measures.