Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar (June 27, 1872 – February 9, 1906) was a seminal American poet in the late 19th and early 20th century. Dunbar gained national recognition for his 1896 Lyrics of a Lowly Life. Born in Dayton, Ohio to parents who had escaped from slavery, Dunbar's father was a veteran of the American Civil War, having served in the 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment and the 5th Massachusetts Colored Cavalry Regiment. His parents instilled in him a love of learning and history. He was the only black student at Dayton Central High School, but he participated actively as a student. During college, he was both the editor of the school newspaper, class president, as well as the president of the school literary society.

He wrote his first poem at age 6 and gave his first public recital at age 9. Dunbar's first published work came in a newspaper put out by his high-school friends, Wilbur and Orville Wright, who owned a printing plant. The Wright Brothers later invested in the Dayton Tattler, a newspaper aimed at the black community edited and published by Dunbar.

His first collection of poetry, Oak and Ivy was published in 1892 and attracted the attention of James Whitcomb Riley, the popular "Hoosier Poet". Both Riley and Dunbar wrote poems in both standard English and dialect. His second book, Majors and Minors (1895) brought him national fame and the patronage of William Dean Howells, the novelist and critic and editor of Harper's Weekly. After Howells' praise, his first two books were combined as Lyrics of a Lowly Life and Dunbar started on a career of international literary fame that was cut short by his early death.

He moved to Washington, D.C., in the Le Droit Park neighborhood. While in Washington, he attended Howard University.

His wife Alice Moore Dunbar was a famous poet as well. A graduate of Dillard University, in New Orleans, Moore's most famous works include a short story entitled, "Violets". She and her husband also wrote books of poetry as companion pieces. An Account of their love, life and marriage was depicted in a play by Katherine McGhee titled Oak and Ivy

He kept a lifelong friendship with the Wrights, and was also closely associated with Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington. He was honored with a ceremonial sword by President Theodore Roosevelt.

He wrote a dozen books of poetry, four books of short stories, and five novels and a play. His essays and poems were published widely in the leading journals of the day. His work appeared in Harper's Weekly, the Sunday Evening Post, the Denver Post, Current Literature and a number of other publications. During his life, considerable emphasis was laid on the fact that Dunbar was of pure black descent, with no white ancestors.

Dunbar's work is known for its colorful language and use of dialect, and a conversational tone, with a brilliant rhetorical structure.

Dunbar traveled to England in 1897 to recite his works on the London literary circuit. After his return, Dunbar took a job at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. In 1900, Dunbar was diagnosed with tuberculosis, and moved to Colorado with his wife on the advice of his doctors. Dunbar died at age thirty-three on February 9, 1906, and was interred in the Woodland Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio.

In 1975 the U.S. Postal Service issued a 10 cent commemorative stamp in honor of Paul Laurence Dunbar.

Dunbar in Standard English, and Dunbar in dialect

Some of Paul's work was written in conventional English, but others appeared in Dialect, and he never escaped the suspicion that there was something demeaning about producing a dialect poem despite its evident popularity.

He is quoted as saying "I am tired, so tired of dialect. I send out graceful little poems, suited for any of the magzines, but they are returned to me by editors who say, Dunbar, but we do not care for the language compositions".

For benefit of the modern reader who has not seen a dialect poem, here are two short similar stanzas one in standard English, another in dialect. It should be evident that Dunbar was a fine poet of standard English.

 What dreams we have and how they fly 
 Like rosy clouds across the sky; 
   Of wealth, of fame, of sure success, 
   Of love that comes to cheer and bless; 
 And how they whither, how they fade,
 The waning wealth, the jilting jade —
   The fame that for a moment gleams,
   Then flies forever, — dreams, ah — dreams!

(From Dreams)

  "Sunshine on de medders, 
     Greenness on de way; 
   Dat's de blessed reason 
     I sing all de day." 
   Look hyeah! What you axing'? 
     What meks me so merry?
  'Spect to see me sighin'
     W'en hit's wa'm in Febawary?

(From A warm day in winter)

External links

• University of Dayton's Paul Laurence Dunbar biography
• Paul Laurence Dunbar state historical site
• Dunbar's home is also part of Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park which includes both the Wright Brothers bicycle shop and Dunbar's home (with a Wright bicycle they gave him).
• Dunbar's Legacy of Language, an NPR story marking the 100th anniversary of Dunbar's death, and including poetry reading.
• Works by Paul Laurence Dunbar. Project Gutenberg
• The Life and Works of Paul Lawrence Dunbar by Lida Keck Wiggins, issued by Winston-Derek in 1992 ISBN 1-55523-473-9

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