W. E. B. Du Bois' The Souls of Black Folk is a classic work of American literature. It is a fundamental book in the history of sociology as well as an important work in the history of African-American literature. Du Bois drew on his own experiences as an African-American in American society to create this revolutionary work. Aside from its historical significance, The Souls of Black Folk is a noteworthy work in social science because it is one of the first works in the subject of sociology.