W.E.B. Du Bois’s later years were shaped by Ghana, a connection that ran through much of his thinking about Black America and the African continent. That detail matters when you look at who’s now helping carry his legacy forward. Dr. Sonia R. White, a healthcare professional, U.S. Air Force veteran, author, and community advocate, has been appointed to the W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Board, and her own ties to Ghana are part of why the fit makes sense.
White has visited the country twice. Those trips weren’t just travel. They shaped how she thinks about history, education, and the African diaspora, the same threads that ran through Du Bois’s work. The experiences deepened her commitment to preserving that history and helping more people understand it.
Her background reads like someone who’s spent decades showing up for other people. She served in the Air Force, then built a career in healthcare where she’s treated thousands of patients while pushing for health education, better access to care, and community wellness. Outside the clinic, that same instinct shows up in her mentorship and leadership work.
On the board, she’ll serve alongside Jeffrey Peck, Du Bois’s great-grandson, and a group focused on keeping the scholar’s vision alive through education, historical preservation, and community engagement. Du Bois remains one of the most influential writers and civil rights figures America has produced, and the board exists to make sure that influence doesn’t fade into a textbook footnote.
“Service has always been at the center of my life’s work,” White said. “To be selected to serve on a board that honors the extraordinary legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois is both a privilege and a responsibility. I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Jeffrey Peck and fellow board members in preserving and advancing a legacy that continues to inspire progress, education, and empowerment.”
What ties her story to Du Bois’s isn’t just geography. It’s the through-line of believing education and service can change what comes next for a community. He bet his life on that idea. White’s appointment suggests the people now guarding his legacy understand it the same way.
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