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 history.
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, students and longtime fans.
Uplifting His Legacy ~ Monthly
Join us to research, discuss & perform with
The Love Of Dunbar Collective on ZOOM
2nd Fridays of the month in 2025
Freestylin' Dunbar...Weekly
THURSDAYS
7 PM ET - 6 PM CT - 5 PM MT - 4 PM PT
This FREE Zoom meetup is a extension of Oni Lasana's Brother Dunbar Poetry & Performance Workshop published in Literacy Development in the Storytelling Classroom on Libraries Unlimited Press, and You Can Do Dunbar, Add Him To Your Repertoire Workshop.
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 prose.
Resource website: www.PaulLaurenceDunbar.org
Visit the resource website to discover a poem that strikes your fancy. Write down and bring the name of the poem (s) you find to this meetup for a lively educational interactive experience.
The Change Has Come...Dunbar lives!
The Love of Dunbar Collective offered lesser known poems on the ups and downs of Dunbar's life.
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 Director
Storyteller, Poet
Performing & Teaching Artist
Philadelphia, PA
~
"Dunbar is my main muse, I love the drama, humor and pathos of his spoken words, especially the southern voices. His self-reflection and insight into human nature is timeless.
Dunbar's creative historical reach and literary range touches the heart of all humanity, no matter race, creed or age."
Bettye Holt-Haskins
Educator, Researcher
Artistic Director & Storyteller
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' on 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
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."
Beyond The Mask 2025
"Paul Laurence Dunbar: Beyond the Mask" is a documentary about the life and legacy of the first African American poet to earn national fame. Born to former slaves in Dayton, Ohio, Dunbar also wrote short stories, novels and hard hitting essays critical of Jim Crow laws and lynching.
Professor Lewis gave us permission to share with you here and also look for it at your local PBS TV station.
Check out short video's on Dunbar below.
Donna Marie Kuczynski
Storyteller
Amherst, OH
~
"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."
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".
Bowen Lee
Visual & Teaching Artist & Storyteller
Moss Landing, CA
~
"I am blown away by the depth 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."
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
Artist, Writer & Researcher
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
Storyteller
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
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
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.
~ ~ ~
If YOU are a Dunbar scholar or fan and have time to visit to share your expertise, don't hesitate....
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
If you booked a Love Of Dunbar program, feel free to copy and paste this logo in your promotional materials.
Thank you