The Souls of Black Folk is a classic work originally published in 1903. It is a seminal work in the history of sociology and a cornerstone of African-American literary history. It contains several essays on race. To develop this work, Du Bois drew from his own experiences as an African American in the American society. Outside of its notable relevance in African-American history, The Souls of Black Folk also holds an important place in social science as one of the early works in the field of sociology. According to Du Bois's biographer Manning Marable, "few books make history and fewer still become foundational texts for the movements and struggles of an entire people. The Souls of Black Folk occupies this rare position."