Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872–1906)
Author of The Sport of the Gods
About the Author
Paul Laurence Dunbar was born in June 27, 1872 in Dayton, Ohio. He was the son of ex-slaves and attended school at Dayton Central High School, the only African-American in his class. Dunbar was a member of the debating society, editor of the school paper and president of the school's literary show more society. He also wrote for Dayton community newspapers. He worked as an elevator operator in Dayton's Callahan Building until he established himself locally and nationally as a writer. He published an African-American newsletter in Dayton, the Dayton Tattler, with help from the Wright brothers. Dunbar was the first African-American to gain national eminence as a poet. Oak and Ivy, his first collection, was published in 1892. As his book gained fame, Dunbar was invited to recite at the World's Fair, in 1893 where he met Frederick Douglass. Dunbar's second book, Majors and Minors, propelled him to national fame. A New York publishing firm, Dodd Mead and Co., combined Dunbar's first two books and published them as Lyrics of a Lowly Life. Dunbar then took a job at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. He found the work tiresome, however, and the library's dust contributed to his worsening case of tuberculosis. He worked there for only a year before quitting to write and recite full time. Depression and declining health drove him to drink, which further damaged his health. He continued to write, however. He ultimately produced 12 books of poetry, four books of short stories, a play and five novels. His work appeared in Harper's Weekly, the Sunday Evening Post, the Denver Post, Current Literature and a number of other magazines and journals. He died there on Feb. 9, 1906 at the age of 33. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Works by Paul Laurence Dunbar
The Paul Laurence Dunbar reader: A selection of the best of Paul Laurence Dunbar's poetry and prose, including writings… (1975) 7 copies
Lyrics of sunshine and shadow (1905). By: Paul Laurence Dunbar: Poetry (Original Classics) (2015) 3 copies
Sympathy 2 copies
Delphi Complete Works of Paul Laurence Dunbar (Illustrated) (Delphi Poets Series Book 70) (2017) 2 copies
Dunbar Poetry 1 copy
Dawn 1 copy
Folks from Dixie (1898). By: Paul Laurence Dunbar, Illustrated By: E. W. Kemble: Edward Windsor Kemble (January 18,… (2017) 1 copy
“Frederick Douglass” 1 copy
“Harriet Beecher Stowe” 1 copy
The Corn-Stalk Fiddle 1 copy
The mission of Mr Scatters 1 copy
Associated Works
The Best Short Stories by Black Writers, 1899-1967: The Classic Anthology (1967) — Contributor — 176 copies
Calling the Wind: Twentieth Century African-American Short Stories (1992) — Contributor — 102 copies
In Search of Color Everywhere: A Collection of African-American Poetry (1656) — Contributor — 100 copies
The African-American Novel in the Age of Reaction: 3 Classics Iola Leroy or Shadows Uplifted The Marrow Tradition The… (1992) — Contributor — 34 copies
Before Harlem: An Anthology of African American Literature from the Long Nineteenth Century (2016) — Contributor — 9 copies
African American Literature: A Concise Anthology from Frederick Douglass to Toni Morrison (2009) — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Dunbar, Paul Laurence
- Birthdate
- 1872-06-27
- Date of death
- 1906-02-09
- Burial location
- Woodland Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio, USA
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Dayton, Ohio, USA
- Place of death
- Dayton, Ohio, USA
- Places of residence
- LeDroit Park, Washington, D.C., USA
London, England, UK - Education
- Central High School
- Occupations
- poet
novelist
short-story writer
playwright
editor
elevator operator (show all 8)
lyricist
essayist - Relationships
- Nelson, Alice Dunbar (wife)
Wright, Orville (friend)
Wright, Wilbur (friend)
Whitlock, Brand (friend)
Douglass, Frederick (friend)
Jacobs-Bond, Carrie (collaborator) (show all 7)
Du Bois, W. E. B. (friend) - Organizations
- The Tattler
Broadway
Indianapolis World
Library of Congress
Chicago Tribune
American Social Science Association (show all 7)
Western Association of Writers - Awards and honors
- Dunbar was the first black poet to receive national attention and praise.
The musical In Dahomey, for which Dunbar provided the lyrics, was the first musical on Broadway written and performed entirely by blacks.
Honorary M.A., Atlanta University
Dunbar House State Historical State
Members
Reviews
Poems of cabin and field ... by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Poems illustrated by black and white photographs.
Before I resumed reading poetry from The Well-Educated Mind list, I had not heard of Paul Laurence Dunbar. But now, I consider him one of my favorite poets. Why? Because every single poem I read from the selected list produced a similar satisfaction.
His topics ranged from life, love, joy, hardship, family, race, traditions, progress, and triumph. He wrote impartially and honestly about African American experiences and traditions of the late 1800s. But the tone was all very kindred. His poems were pragmatic, true, and often cheerful. And best of all, they were musical.
Dunbar wrote many of these poems in the African American dialect, and I found it even more pleasant to hear someone else read them than for me to read them myself. In that way, they become like songs.
His life was fascinating. Born in Ohio, to two former slaves (from Kentucky), he took an interest in writing from his youth. He was the only black student of his high school class and became president of the school literary society, editor of the school newspaper, and the class poet. Orville Wright was his classmate, and helped him print a separate publication, in which Dunbar also contributed poems.
After graduation, and due to the praise from teachers and newspaper editors, Dunbar gained access to the literary world and had some of his work published. Even Orville Wright later helped finance his friend. An admiring attorney offered to pay for his college, but Dunbar rejected the offer to pursue his writing career. Thus, the attorney helped Dunbar publish a second collection of poems. (That's how promising he was. Everyone who knew his work wanted him to succeed.)
Dunbar became America's first prominent African American poet and was an international sensation. His verse dialect was actually preferred by white audiences. In other words: they liked it! He also wrote short stories, novels, and essays, which I would be interested in reading, as well.
Unfortunately, Dunbar suffered from health complications and died at the young age of 33. Gratefully, today, we still have his works, which have only gained in popularity over time. If you are interested, read a poem or two from Paul Laurence Dunbar. You will not be disappointed.
These are the selected poems I read. Favored favorites are in blue:
A Negro love Song
An Ante-Bellum Sermon
At the Tavern
Colored Band
The Debt
Douglass
Little Brown Baby
Ode to Ethiopia
The Old Front Gate
The Poet and His Song
The Seedling
Signs of the Times
Sympathy
We Wear the Mask
When Malindy Sings
When de Co'n Pone's Hot
When Dey 'Listed Colored Soldiers… (more)
His topics ranged from life, love, joy, hardship, family, race, traditions, progress, and triumph. He wrote impartially and honestly about African American experiences and traditions of the late 1800s. But the tone was all very kindred. His poems were pragmatic, true, and often cheerful. And best of all, they were musical.
Dunbar wrote many of these poems in the African American dialect, and I found it even more pleasant to hear someone else read them than for me to read them myself. In that way, they become like songs.
His life was fascinating. Born in Ohio, to two former slaves (from Kentucky), he took an interest in writing from his youth. He was the only black student of his high school class and became president of the school literary society, editor of the school newspaper, and the class poet. Orville Wright was his classmate, and helped him print a separate publication, in which Dunbar also contributed poems.
After graduation, and due to the praise from teachers and newspaper editors, Dunbar gained access to the literary world and had some of his work published. Even Orville Wright later helped finance his friend. An admiring attorney offered to pay for his college, but Dunbar rejected the offer to pursue his writing career. Thus, the attorney helped Dunbar publish a second collection of poems. (That's how promising he was. Everyone who knew his work wanted him to succeed.)
Dunbar became America's first prominent African American poet and was an international sensation. His verse dialect was actually preferred by white audiences. In other words: they liked it! He also wrote short stories, novels, and essays, which I would be interested in reading, as well.
Unfortunately, Dunbar suffered from health complications and died at the young age of 33. Gratefully, today, we still have his works, which have only gained in popularity over time. If you are interested, read a poem or two from Paul Laurence Dunbar. You will not be disappointed.
These are the selected poems I read. Favored favorites are in blue:
A Negro love Song
An Ante-Bellum Sermon
At the Tavern
Colored Band
The Debt
Douglass
Little Brown Baby
Ode to Ethiopia
The Old Front Gate
The Poet and His Song
The Seedling
Signs of the Times
Sympathy
We Wear the Mask
When Malindy Sings
When de Co'n Pone's Hot
When Dey 'Listed Colored Soldiers… (more)
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