Paul Laurence Dunbar
Mother Matilda Dunbar
Mother Matilda Dunbar
1872-1906
Dayton, Ohio
Dunbar was born free to ex-enslaved Africans, Matilda and Joshua Dunbar. He was a prolific poet, short story writer, novelist, writer of articles, dramatic sketches, newspaper editor, and wrote plays and lyrics for musical compositions.
Motivated by his parents storytelling and various European poets, he created poe
1872-1906
Dayton, Ohio
Dunbar was born free to ex-enslaved Africans, Matilda and Joshua Dunbar. He was a prolific poet, short story writer, novelist, writer of articles, dramatic sketches, newspaper editor, and wrote plays and lyrics for musical compositions.
Motivated by his parents storytelling and various European poets, he created poetry in northern English dialect about life, love, nature, people he knew, the injustices of slavery and on race relations in his day.
His highly skilled and graceful use of southern dialect poetry was very popular for its humble, yet proud wisdom and philosophy on human nature.
Beyond his literary achievements, Dunbar dispelled the myth that Africans in America were unable to be educated. He was also mentored and hailed by Frederick Douglas as the most promising poet of his day and the "Poet Laureate of the Negro race."
Mother Matilda Dunbar
Mother Matilda Dunbar
Mother Matilda Dunbar
Controversial and thought-provoking, he often praised African-Americans, rather than attack Europeans, in much of his work.
Dunbar was a forerunner to the Harlem Renaissance era in American Literature and he motivated writers like James Weldon Johnson, Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston to compose in the language of ordinary folk.
Controversial and thought-provoking, he often praised African-Americans, rather than attack Europeans, in much of his work.
Dunbar was a forerunner to the Harlem Renaissance era in American Literature and he motivated writers like James Weldon Johnson, Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston to compose in the language of ordinary folk.
Dunbar is recognized as the fore father and first free man of color to self-publish and read his works in public. Dunbar was also one of the first American poets to make a considerable living from his appearances in the US and England.
In the opinion of Oni Lasana, "Dunbar is to America what Shakespeare is to English literature and he is the GREAT GRANDFATHER of the spoken word movement...no doubt!"
Oni gives thanks to Bob Jones of The Coatesville Cultural Society (RIP) for educating and mentoring her on Dunbar's works.
Alice Ruth Dunbar
Mother Matilda Dunbar
Alice Ruth Dunbar
Dunbar married author, writer, poet and activist for woman rights, Alice Ruth Dunbar of New Orleans. They lived in Washington D.C. while he was employed at the Library of Congress. They had no children.
Maya Angelou, one of many writers and poet he influenced, titled her autobiography "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" from the opening li
Dunbar married author, writer, poet and activist for woman rights, Alice Ruth Dunbar of New Orleans. They lived in Washington D.C. while he was employed at the Library of Congress. They had no children.
Maya Angelou, one of many writers and poet he influenced, titled her autobiography "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" from the opening line of his most popular poem, Sympathy.
Sympathy is included in the finale of "Doin' Dunbar as 'Lias' Mother" program as a "rap along" with audience participation. It is also a featured poem taught to students in the Brother Dunbar Performance Workshop.
Dunbar gained international attention before his death from tuberculosis at the age of 33. Many schools and public buildings are named in his honor.
His portrait was the first African American to be featured on the US Postage stamp. Paul Laurence Dunbar's home stands as an historic state landmark and museum in Dayton, Ohio.
It's your turn to learn!
Recent Program
.KEEP A-PLUGGIN' AWAY - PT 1
Dunbar's self-motivational poem Keep A-Pluggin' Away is our theme. Meet the people in Paul's life who knew and loved him.
Love Of Dunbar Monthly
You are invited to our free MONTHLY meetup on zoom where we research, discuss and perform Dunbar's life, his southern and northern prose and short stories.
These literary gems hold themes of timeless love, nature, pathos and laughter.
Freestylin' Dunbar Weekly
Freestylin' Dunbar Weekly
Beginning January 16, 202 Join us for this FREE WEEKLY workshop on Zoom for educators to creatively teach, artists to perform and adventurers of literature to explore.
You'll learn new techniques on delivering, reading and presenting Dunbar's spoken words.
Based on the Dunbar workshop, A Poetic Approach To Storytelling on p. 289 of Literacy Development in The Storytelling Classroom published in Libraries Unlimited.
Find and bring a poem of your choice: PaulLaurenceDunbar.org
Doin' Dunbar Workshop & Performance
Interactive workshop focuses on the life of Paul L. Dunbar and his use of German, Irish, Standard and dialect English.
Photo: Featuring Timi Tanzania as Elias
with students of Virginia Tech University
CD of 20 Dunbar poems
Featuring Dunbar's most beloved southern dialect poems; In The Morning, When Dey 'Listed Colored Soldiers, The Party, When Malindy Sings, Angelina and more.
A Literary & History collectors item.
With a fellow Dunbarian
Oni with storytellers, Jean "Omuwuma" Moss, Sister Kwanzaa and Mitch "Grand Daddy" Capel, a fellow "Dunbarian" who is Dunbar's voice at his museum in Ohio.
Enjoying the National Association of Black Storytellers Conference & Festival, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2016
Oni's Diary ~ Muse : considering something thoughtfully
If Not He, Then Who?
From the creator's well of talent
Dunbar over drew
Poetic pictures of old times
Colorfully made anew
Voices he gave to a people no one knew
Home tales of slavery
Some happy...many blue
Hidden from the world he grew
Fed by his parents voice
Slavery's addendum...racist realities
Born free...he had no choice
Love professed in witty ways
His labor beyond them grew
If not he...to share our story
I ask myself...then who?
Others revealed their peoples ways
City life country days
What mattered most...was all he knew
Inside hearts with a birds eye view
Stories, folktales, poetry and songs
He wrote and spoke in public view
Reading in prose...drew a rose
If not he...above the few, then who?
Harris, Lanier, Chestnutt, Davis and Hay
Wrote plantation stories back in the day
Make believe stories in broken words
English, Irish and German, Dunbar was heard.
Over his grave they made remarks
Saying his words were not so smart
Others cursed the rhymes he spew
Common verses rang too true
He set his pen to move with God
A blessing his lyrics are to me
So to critics who only criticize
Tell me...who else could reveal us...but he?
(c) 1999 Oni Lasana, Real Tales of Rhymes & Reasons
2.28.99 - Heidelberg, Germany. Oni Lasana wrote this poem after reading "Crossing The Color Line" A biography of Paul Laurence Dunbar by Felton O. Best
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