Welcome to the Du Bois Freedom Center!
“Education must not simply teach work—it must teach life.” - W.E.B. Du Bois
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.
We are building more than a memorial — a living space for reflection, scholarship, and cultural exchange. Together with our community, we are establishing the premier institution advancing Du Bois' vision and connecting Great Barrington to national and global conversations on democracy, freedom, and equity.
Visit Us
Our office is located at 309 Main Street, Great Barrington. We welcome visitors on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday during regular office hours, from 11AM to 3PM.
If you'd like to visit beyond those hours, please reach out to us at office@duboisfreedomcenter.org
DFC Summer Walking Tour
Late May – September | Every other Saturday | 1:00 – 2:30 PM
Honoring the life, legacy, and rich Black history of W.E.B. Du Bois and the Berkshires, our guided tours explore the stories, places, and people that shaped him and this region. Led by Marcus Smith and Damion Scott, Ph.D. students in the W.E.B. Du Bois Department of African American Studies at UMass Amherst. Open to visitors, K–12 students, educators, scholars, and local residents.
Upcoming Dates
June 27 · July 11 & 25 · Aug 8 & 22 · Sept 5 & 19
Admission
$25 General · $15 Students & Seniors (65+) · Children under 10 free
An Exhibit of Works Celebrating the Life, Story and Legacy of Elizabeth Freeman
Elizabeth Freeman:
Reimagined!
Explore DFC’s Summer Lineup !
July 21
UMass Amherst & Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
In partnership with the W. E. B. Du Bois Center at UMass Amherst, the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center presents an evening celebrating the remarkable friendship between composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and W. E. B. Du Bois. On July 21 (doors open 6:30pm), the program features a group reading of Du Bois' "The Immortal Child" from Darkwater (1920), written in tribute to his late friend, followed by a live performance of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's Clarinet Quintet in F-sharp Minor, and closes with an open conversation with the audience.
Tanglewood musicians join other artists from across the region, including Yo-Yo Ma’s friend and fiddler Ida Mae Specker, to bring the sounds of Tanglewood into the streets of Great Barrington. Hosted by Marcus P. Smith, History and Interpretative Fellow for the Du Bois Freedom Center, the event will include Fellows of the Tanglewood Music Center and musicians from the BU Tanglewood Institute alongside Berkshire Busk! artists who energize the region’s streets and public spaces throughout the summer. Together outdoors in Great Barrington, these artists will present an evening that celebrates the “musical universe” of the Berkshires and the creativity and shared spirit that help ground its community.
August 1
Tanglewood, BSO & Triplex Cinema
August 21-22
The Elizabeth Freeman Project
To Be Announced. Stay Tune!
EVENTS
NEWS
TOURS
“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