The Souls of Black Folk is a non-fiction book by W. E. B. Du Bois, first published in 1903. It consists of a collection of essays and sketches on African American history, culture, and experience in the United States. The book explores topics such as the social and political conditions of African Americans during the Reconstruction period, the role of education in African American progress, the concept of double consciousness, and the need for racial equality and social justice. The book is considered a seminal work in the field of African American studies and an important contribution to American literature.