Who was the first African American to receive a doctorate from Harvard?

W. E. B. Du Bois was the first African American to receive a doctorate from Harvard. He earned his Ph.D. in 1895, marking a significant achievement in a time when African Americans faced considerable barriers to higher education. Du Bois is known for his extensive contributions to sociology, history, and civil rights. His doctoral dissertation, which focused on the condition of African Americans in the United States, was groundbreaking and helped lay the foundation for contemporary studies on race and social justice. His academic work and activism had a profound impact on the struggle for civil rights and the understanding of race relations in America.