📕African American Literature – Before 1900 Unit 12 – Dunbar: Pioneer of African American Poetry

Who Was Paul Laurence Dunbar?

• Born in 1872 in Dayton, Ohio to former slaves
• First African American poet to gain national recognition and acclaim
• Attended high school with Orville Wright (of the Wright Brothers) and was the only African American student in his class
• Worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry in his spare time
• Published his first collection of poetry, Oak and Ivy, in 1893
• Wrote in both standard English and African American dialect
• Became friends with Frederick Douglass, who praised his work
• Died at the young age of 33 due to tuberculosis

Historical Context: Late 19th Century America

• Post-Civil War era marked by Reconstruction and the rise of Jim Crow laws
• Racial segregation and discrimination were prevalent throughout the United States
• African Americans faced limited opportunities for education and employment
• Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine, legitimizing segregation
• The Great Migration began in the 1890s, with many African Americans moving from the South to the North in search of better opportunities
• Literacy rates among African Americans increased, leading to a growing audience for black writers
• The Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement celebrating African American art and literature, emerged in the early 20th century

Dunbar's Literary Style and Themes

• Wrote in both standard English and African American dialect
• Used dialect poetry to capture the authentic voices and experiences of African Americans
• Themes included love, nature, religion, and the struggles of African American life
• Employed various poetic forms, such as sonnets, ballads, and lyric poems
• Used humor and satire to critique racial stereotypes and injustices
• Explored the duality of the African American experience, often masking pain with humor
• Drew inspiration from European Romantic poets, such as John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley

Major Works and Their Impact

• Oak and Ivy (1893): His first self-published collection of poetry that gained him recognition
• Majors and Minors (1895): A collection that showcased his mastery of both standard English and dialect poetry
• Lyrics of Lowly Life (1896): His most famous collection, which included "We Wear the Mask" and "Sympathy"
  • "We Wear the Mask" explores the concept of masking one's true feelings and the pain of racial oppression
  • "Sympathy" is a powerful poem that uses the metaphor of a caged bird to represent the African American experience
• The Sport of the Gods (1902): A novel that critiques the negative impact of urban life on African American families
• The Uncalled (1898): Dunbar's first novel, which explores themes of religion and identity

Dialect Poetry: Controversy and Significance

• Dunbar's dialect poetry was both praised and criticized during his lifetime
• Some African American intellectuals, such as James Weldon Johnson, felt that dialect poetry reinforced negative stereotypes
• Others, like William Dean Howells, praised Dunbar's authentic representation of African American speech and culture
• Dialect poetry allowed Dunbar to capture the unique experiences and voices of African Americans
• Helped to preserve African American folklore and oral traditions
• Paved the way for future African American writers to experiment with language and form
• Sparked debates about the representation of African Americans in literature and the role of black writers

Influence on African American Literature

• Dunbar's success inspired a generation of African American writers, including Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston
• Demonstrated that African American writers could achieve national recognition and commercial success
• Helped to establish African American literature as a distinct and valuable tradition
• Influenced the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement that celebrated African American art and literature
• Paved the way for the exploration of African American experiences and identities in literature
• Encouraged the use of African American dialect and vernacular in poetry and prose
• Inspired future generations of African American writers to challenge racial stereotypes and assert their cultural heritage

Legacy and Contemporary Relevance

• Dunbar's poetry continues to be widely read and studied in schools and universities
• His work has been adapted into plays, musicals, and films
• The Paul Laurence Dunbar House in Dayton, Ohio, is a National Historic Landmark and museum
• Dunbar's themes of racial identity, oppression, and resilience remain relevant to contemporary discussions of race and social justice
• His exploration of the African American experience paved the way for future writers to address issues of identity and cultural heritage
• Dunbar's legacy has inspired contemporary African American poets, such as Rita Dove and Nikki Giovanni
• His work continues to be celebrated during Black History Month and in African American cultural events

Key Takeaways and Discussion Points

• Paul Laurence Dunbar was a pioneering African American poet who gained national recognition in the late 19th century
• His work explored themes of love, nature, religion, and the struggles of African American life
• Dunbar wrote in both standard English and African American dialect, capturing the authentic voices and experiences of African Americans
• His dialect poetry was both praised and criticized, sparking debates about the representation of African Americans in literature
• Dunbar's success inspired a generation of African American writers and helped to establish African American literature as a distinct tradition
• His legacy continues to be celebrated, and his themes remain relevant to contemporary discussions of race and social justice
• Dunbar's work paved the way for future African American writers to explore issues of identity, cultural heritage, and racial oppression