PBS Explores The Life Of Scholar And Civil Rights Activist Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois In New Documentary Titled “W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With A Cause”

By David Jordan Jr

The legacy of Black American scholar, educator, historian and civil rights activist Dr. W.E.B. Dubois created a world renowned legacy from his efforts spearheaded by peak inquisitiveness. A man of many firsts, Dubois’s path to historical significance and impact was one that made him a man capable of connecting with people, shaping people, and leading people. From the United States to Europe and to Africa, his legacy remains esteemed by all who knew him, studied him, and those who aim to apply his principles to their lives.

PBS has produced a fascinating new documentary that delves into the life of Dr. W.E.B. Dubois. Titled “W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With A Cause,” the film is directed by the Peabody Award-winning Rita Coburn and is set to premiere on May 19, 2026, on PBS. Spanning two hours, the documentary explores Dubois’s extraordinary journey from his birth, which occurred just five years after the Emancipation Proclamation, to his death right before the March on Washington in 1963.

Recently, ESHE had the opportunity to speak with director Rita Coburn, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer, historian, and educator David Levering Lewis, award-winning actor Jeffrey Wright, and the great-grandson of W.E.B. Du Bois.

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