Sesquicentennial (150th) Anniversary Celebration of Paul Laurence Dunbar 2022-2023

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 

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PROGRAM 1  

Pre-K - 3rd grades

Theme: At Home

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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"

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Poetry from programs 1 & 2 can be combined within your time limits.

MIDDLE SCHOOL - UNIVERSITY

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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

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 We can also customize a program from these listed poems to suit your theme.  

MIDDLE SCHOOLS - SENIORS

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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

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 SPECIAL THEMES 

Lyrics of Love & Laughter

Country &  City Folks

Civil War & Freedom

Juba The Storyteller

Las Cruces, New Mexico

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 "My mother introduced me to Dunbar at a very young age. I  fell in love with his writings and he became my mentor. His legacy of poems, essays, and stories should be heard so they will never be forgotten."

Stories by Josie

Atlanta, Georgia

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"I fell in love with Dunbar’s poem “In the Morning” as a child and the poem has followed me for the past 50 years."

Poet & Storyteller 

 Philadelphia, PA

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"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."

Mt. Rainier, Maryland  

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"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."

Educator & Storyteller

Baltimore, Maryland

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"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." 

 Musician & Yodeler

Reading, Massachusetts

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"The poetry of Dunbar is so musical, his timing rhythms, cadences, it all resonates with the deepest part of my soul. I find his poetry astonishingly accessible to me as a musician."

Storyteller

Amherst, Ohio

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"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."

Creative Director

Performing & Teaching Artist, Storyteller & Poet

Philadelphia, PA

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"Dunbar is my main muse, I love the drama, humor and pathos of his genius. Though he wrote over a 100 years ago, his love, 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." 

Visual & Teaching  Artist & Storyteller

Moss Landing, California

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 "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." 

Storyteller

San Diego, California

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 "My mother's mother went to college in the early years of the last century, majoring in elocution. One of her favorite recitations - which always made me smile -- was Dunbar's poem "When Angelina Johnson comes a-swingin' down the line." 

Storyteller

Portland, Maine

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"Dunbar wrote more than a century ago, yet when I recite "the Mask" I find myself in tears uncovering layer after layer of what applies to us now, after 2 years of our first pandemic.  But also in the way we, as a culture, still wear a mask to fit in and survive.. yet how much we ache to be rid of it."

Storyteller & Writer

Rimrock, Arizona

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 "The poetry and writing of Paul Laurence Dunbar are for everyone - young and old, all nationalities and races. Funny poems, serious poems, poems about love, life and loss. There is a depth to his work that show he had wisdom beyond his years. Poems written over 100 years ago transcend time and touch my heart today." 

Educator

Cincinnati, Ohio

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"I love presenting Dunbar recitations because I am privileged to keep alive the great memory and talent of a prolific Black Man."

Educator & Storyteller

Carryduff, Ireland

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"In the workshop, I was immediately captivated with  “We wear the Mask” and “Sympathy” it touched my heart and soul. 

As an Irishman, I still feel a strange sort of kinship or empathy with those who had been so mis-treated. 

The more I learn about the poet and his work, the more I admire both." 

Educator & Storyteller

Cleveland, Ohio

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"Dunbar once wrote  

"I hope there is something worthy in my writings and not merely the novelty of a black face associated with the power to rhyme that has attracted attention"

His work must be shared."  

Educator, Poet & Storyteller

Newark, New Jersey 

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"I discovered the poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar as a child and find myself in greater awe as I continuously re-read his work as an adult. His unique, insightful storytelling captured through his brilliant poetry is a treasure for the ages."