Lantana Camara thrives in a flower pot just outside the towering W.E.B. Du Bois Library at UMass Amherst.
The vibrant lantana flowers, known for their cluster of small, vivid blooms, add a splash of color to the campus’s academic landscape over the summer. These flowers thrive in hot weather and bloom during the warmer months.
The W.E.B. Du Bois library is one of the tallest academic libraries globally. Named after W.E.B. Du Bois, a notable civil rights activist and scholar, it holds an extensive collection of his papers, drawing researchers from around the world. Amherst, a town celebrated for its education-centered community, is home to several prominent institutions, including Amherst College and Hampshire College.
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W.E.B. Du Bois was recently honored in his hometown of Great Barrington, Massachusetts, with the unveiling of a life-sized bronze sculpture in front of the Mason Public Library on Main Street. The dedication took place on July 19, 2025, marking the town’s first major public monument to one of its most influential native sons.
The statue, created by artist Richard Blake, depicts Du Bois seated on a curved marble bench, extending his hand in a gesture of welcome. The redesigned plaza now offers seating and a space for reflection, making it not just a monument but also a gathering place for the community.
The unveiling ceremony drew a large crowd and featured speeches, music, spoken word, dance, and community celebrations. Distinguished speakers included former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Du Bois biographer David Levering Lewis, and Imari Paris Jeffries of Embrace Boston, who highlighted the statue’s message of peace and belonging.
Du Bois’s great-grandson, Jeffrey Alan Peck, presided over the unveiling, reading from his ancestor’s writings and reflecting on how, despite Du Bois’s international life and legacy, he always considered Great Barrington his home.
