Author : Poet : Activist : Literary Humanitarian
Paul Laurence Dunbar
1872-1906
Dayton, Ohio
The Love of Dunbar Collective is a international group of Educators, Poets, Storytellers and everyday people who enjoy Dunbar's literary legacy.
We meet on Zoom to research, discuss his life, and perform the poetry and folktales of America's Shakespeare and Father of The Spoken Word Movement.
~ OUR VISION ~
We envision a world where PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR receives the full recognition his genius deserves, including a PULITZER PRIZE Special Citation in Literature.
~ OUR MISSION ~
To foster appreciation for Dunbar's life through
his literary works.
~ OUR GOAL ~
Introduce his poetry, prose, stories, novels and folktales to a international inter-generational, community. We serve as an educational entertaining virtual platform for educators, artists and students.
Uplifting A Legacy
Join us to research, discuss & perform with
The Love Of Dunbar Collective on ZOOM
2nd FRIDAYS
BUSINESS & PERFORMANCE PLANNING
~ WEEKLY FRIDAY MEETUPS ~
This FREE Zoom creative online gathering is an extension of A POETIC APPROACH TO STORYTELLING, published in Literacy Development in the Storytelling Classroom on Libraries Unlimited Press,
Edited by Storytellers:
Sherry Norfolk, Jane Stenson, and Diane Williams
and the
YOU CAN DO DUNBAR! ADD HIM TO YOUR REPERTOIRE
Performance & Poetry Workshops
developed and facilitated by Oni Lasana.
We invite artists, educators, poetry lovers and history buffs who are curious about what makes Dunbar worthy of a Pulitzer Prize in Literature.
It also serves English Teachers on creative ways to teach Dunbar's poetry and for storytelling artists to consciously perform his poetry and short stories.
Our Resource
Visit this "Daily Dunbar" website to discover the poems which speaks to your heart. Write down the titles and bring to this meetup for a lively interactive experience.
Registration Required
Pulitzer for Paul ?
The Change Has Come...Dunbar lives!
The Love of Dunbar Collective offered lesser known poems on the ups and downs of Dunbar.
We share his poetic musings on a higher power he often called on to guide his life, career and health.
A Discovering Dunbar Series
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.
Creative & Artistic Director: Bettye Holt-Haskins
Remembering Dunbar Portrait
Dunbar Oak & Ivy (c) 1996 Reginald Harmon
Program Offerings & Love of Dunbar Artists
Dunbar Youth Program
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
~
PROGRAM 1
Pre-K - 3rd grades
Theme: At Home
~
In The Morning
When De Corn Pone's Hot
Opportunity
A Grievance
A Cabin Tale
The Boogah Man
Sandman & Johnny Speaks
& more!
PROGRAM 2
4-5th Grades
Theme: Outdoor Adventures
The Capture
Wadin' In De Crick
Till The Wind Get Right
Disappointed
The Seedling
Winters Approach
Keep A Pluggin' Away
Sympathy aka "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings"
~ ~ ~
Poetry from programs 1 & 2 can be combined within time limitations.
Voices Of Dunbar
MIDDLE SCHOOL - UNIVERSITY
~
Sympathy aka "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" - A interactive rap/song
Dreams
Vagrants
Angelina
The Haunted Oak
We Wear The Mask
The Corn Stalk Fiddle
When Malindy Sings
Encouragement
Circumstances Alter Cases
Made To Order Smile
A Negro Love Song
At Sunset Time
A Virginia Reel
~ ~ ~
We can also customize a program from these listed poems to suit your theme.
Historical Tributes
UNIVERSITY - SENIORS
~
Whistlin' Sam
Ode To Ethiopia
Abraham Lincoln
Harriet Beecher Stowe
When Dey 'Listed Colored Soldiers
An Ante-Bellum Sermon
John Boyle O'Reilly
When Malindy Sings
Frederick Douglas
The Colored Soldiers
Robert Gould Shaw
How Lucy Backslid
The Party, a Juneteenth Celebration
~ ~ ~
SPECIAL THEMES
Lyrics of Love & Laughter
Country & City Folks
Civil War & Freedom
A Dunbar Juneteenth
Remembering Dunbar 2024
In our 4th Annual Tribute Memorial Program 2024
We were delighted to share our favorite poems.
Creative Director:
Oni Lasana
Circle of Life, Dawn to Dawn
Circle of Life, Dawn to Dawn
POETRY MONTH 2024
CIRCLE OF LIFE...dawn to dawn
Dunbar is in everyone's life.
Creative Director : Bettye Haskins.
'Lias' Mother
Circle of Life, Dawn to Dawn
Circa 1800 in America.
Southern prose is featured in a one-woman interactive play.
Meet a mother like no other.
Oni Lasana
Founder
Creative/Artistic Director
Storyteller - Poet - Author
Performing & Teaching Artist
Philadelphia, PA
~
"For over 30 years, Dunbar's prose is my creative muse. I love the drama, humor and pathos of his spoken words, especially the southern voices of my ancestors. His insight into human nature is self reflective and timeless.
Dunbar's creative historical reach and literary range touches the heart and soul of all humanity."
Bettye Holt-Haskins
Educator - Researcher - Storyteller
Creative/Artistic Director
Baltimore, MD
~
"Dunbar's works are not only entertaining, they contain many layers of complexity that always have you asking "what does that mean?"
It is the search for those meanings that keep Dunbar alive for me."
Nashid Ali
Storyteller - Musician
Radio Personality, aka Pop Pop Grow Somethin' WURD FM Radio
Philadelphia, PA
~
"I was introduced to Dunbar's poetry during my early years at Walton Elementary School, by a beloved HBCU Cheyney University educated teacher, Ms. A. Foster. We loved to hear Ms. Foster with her perfectly pronounced dialect and additional commentary.
Today, I regard Paul Laurence Dunbar the great grandfather of the ever evolving Black Literacy Revolution. Write on."
Nzinga El~Asele
Educator - Poet & Storyteller
Sacramento, CA
~
"I feel like Dunbar gives us the magic of poetry as well as its versatility. He paints pictures with his words.
I find lost melodies, images, characters.
His metaphors I adore. Justice and injustice and different world views.
He makes me laugh, think and dream."
Ron Carter
Storyteller - Author
Historical Actor
Killeen, TX
~
"For me it is both a pleasure and privilege being a part of the journey that shares the works of Paul Laurence Dunbar. His works are an uplift and wonderfulness to enjoy with others and an endeavor to experience to its fullness."
Donna Marie Kuczynski
Educator - Storyteller
Amherst , Ohio
~
"A man of such sensitivity and compassion Paul Laurence Dunbar could feel the pain of a perfect stranger and put into words that which would be soothing to him and yet allow for another to empathize. He had a wicked sense of humor and found joy in the smallest of God given gifts."
Bowen Lee
Educator - Storyteller
Visual & Teaching Artist
Tumwater, WA
~
&and scope and beauty of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s work. His words must be spoken out loud to fully appreciate their mastery. He is an inspiration and mentor to us all on the power of words."
Peadar Murphy
Educator - Video Editor
Storyteller
Carryduff, Ireland
~
"My first encounter with PLD was a workshop I chanced on in with Oni Lasana. The poems “We wear the Mask” and “Sympathy” took my breath away and touched my soul. As an Irishman my ancestry is very different from Dunbar, but I still felt a sort of kinship with those who had been so badly violated".
Judy Bateman
Educator & Storyteller
Cleveland, Ohio
~
"The words of Dunbar open the mind and heart and even send you soul searching. Sometimes those words bring laughter and tears together."
Timeless
Narrative Artist
Bulbancha aka
New Orleans, LA
~
“Dunbar has been called the Shakespeare of America. He gives voice to a people.
Shakespeare should be so honored. “
Ashabi Rich
Researcher
Artist - Writer
Philadelphia, PA
~
"Sculpting the mood by his insightful bend of mind, Dunbar had a method of constructing his writing so as to choreograph the intentional interpretation of his compositions.
Reading and listening to Dunbar's work expands my life historically, emotionally and intellectually."
Viveca Deanes
Educator - Storyteller
Royse City, Texas
~
"I have a deep appreciation for the honor, dignity, and beauty Paul Laurence Dunbar gives in his poetry. His sharing of African-American culture and to the deep southern dialect once spoken by my maternal grandmother, Alice."
Karol V. Brown
Motivational Speaker - Author Actor - The Harriet Tubman Way
Seattle, WA
~
"I have been reciting his poetry since I was a child. I was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, and my mother was a volunteer at the Dunbar House, To be able to keep Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poetry and stories alive is also keeping my history and memories alive."
Wanda Owens
Educator - Storyteller
Cleveland, Ohio
~
"He was a man ahead of his time and much of what he wrote, still applies to what we are experiencing today.
I find him to be a inspiration."
Adam Alonzo
Educator - Researcher - Producer
Dayton, Ohio
~
We are grateful for the hard work and diligence of Adam Alonzo who created the Daily Dunbar website. We enjoyed his visit with us as he shared his love of Dunbar.
~ ~ ~
Jody Fitterer
Educator & Docent
Mt. Rainier, Maryland
RIP
~
Our beloved Jody had a genuine and natural delivery of Dunbar's southern poetry.
Jody shared on discovering Dunbar's works.
"Dunbar's poetry helped me see American history and literature in a brand new light. The tragedy of slavery and his overcoming prejudices in his day, is a great example of overcoming for everyone, young and old.
Dunbar works should be extensively studied in all schools curriculum's."
Love of Dunbar Logo
Love of Dunbar Logo
Booking a Love Of Dunbar program? Copy and paste this logo in your promotional materials.
~ ~ ~
If YOU are a Dunbar scholar, a curious artist, a lover of poetry, history or literature student, we welcome you to drop in for the adventure!