American Lit II: Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar is a very different type of poet. Dunbar wrote most of his poems, short stories, essays and novels about the struggles of the African American race at the time he was alive (1872-1906). While Dunbar write many of his poems and stories in standard English dialect, he also wrote many of these in the African dialect spoken at this time. Dunbar's work is very interesting. It may take a little time and effort to fully understand some of his works, but they are literary pieces of gold. Sadly, Dunbar died at the age of 34, leaving us to wonder what he would truly be capable of if he had lived to continue to write and perfect his craft.