Rather than treating dignity as a status conferred by others, Du Bois’s phrasing implies it can be cultivated through consistent practice. That practice might look like learning skills that expand agency, speaking truth in environments that reward silence, or refusing work that requires self-betrayal. In other words, dignity “breeds” when time is repeatedly placed into activities that align identity with principle.
As this habit forms, it reshapes how a person makes decisions under stress. A small anecdote captures the idea: someone who sets aside an hour each evening to study for a credential after a demeaning shift is not just chasing a promotion—they are reclaiming authorship over their life. Over time, that reclaimed authorship becomes the backbone of future opportunity. [...]
