SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
Stop by our 309 Office and experience the legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois.
Open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11 AM–3 PM.
Our Mission
The mission of the W.E.B. Du Bois Center for Freedom and Democracy is to educate the public about the life and legacy of civil rights pioneer W.E.B. Du Bois and the rich African American heritage of the Berkshires.
Located at the former Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church in Great Barrington, where he was born and raised, this vibrant center of Black thought and remembrance constitutes the first museum and living memorial in North America dedicated to Du Bois’ life and legacy.
Ongoing Exhibition: The Scottsboro Boys Traveling Exhibit | February 10 - Late April
The W.E.B. Du Bois Freedom Center is proud to partner with the Scottsboro Boys Museum to present its traveling exhibition at our 309 Main Street office in Great Barrington. The exhibit is on view from February 10 through late April. We invite visitors to engage with this important chapter of American history and reflect on its enduring relevance.
This powerful exhibition examines the landmark Scottsboro case and its profound impact on constitutional law and the Black Freedom Struggle. It also highlights the critical involvement of W.E.B. Du Bois and the NAACP in shaping legal strategies that continue to inform movements for justice today.
Virginia Conway, Community Volunteer & Du Bois Legacy Committee Representative
A Life of Faith, Family, and Freedom
An Interview of Virginia Conway by Beth Carlson, DFC Treasuer
“The Du Bois Freedom Center is something we can call our own — a place named for a Black man. Once it is open, when I walk in the door, I know I will feel a sense of welcome. Because he knew us. He understood the soul of Black people.”
— Virginia Conway
Born in Alabama and a longtime Berkshires resident, Virginia Conway has dedicated her life to faith, leadership, and service through Macedonia Baptist Church, Bridge Multicultural, and the Du Bois Freedom Center.
We thank her for her decades of commitment and community leadership that continue to inspire our mission. Read her story →
Explore W. E. B. Du Bois & African American Heritage in Great Barrington
Every spring, summer, and fall, explore the legacy of W. E. B. Du Bois and the rich African American heritage of Great Barrington through our immersive “Walking Through History” tours.
Led by distinguished scholars and educators—including Marcus P. Smith, David Glassberg, and Interim Executive Director John D. Lloyd—these curated walks trace the neighborhoods, landmarks, stories, discussions that shaped Du Bois’s early life and lasting impact.
Open to students, scholars and first-time visitors alike, each tour offers a meaningful connection to our shared history and future.
To inquire about an individual or group tour, please email: office@duboisfreedomcenter.org
“The W. E. B. Du Bois Center for Freedom and Democracy presents a singular opportunity to reclaim and extend in Du Bois’ hometown, the Black intellectual, artistic traditions, and social movements to which he dedicated his life’s work.”
—David Levering Lewis, Pulitzer Prize-winning Du Bois Biographer
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