Come to Our Office Hours - 309 Main Street

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.

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