The first African American poet to address Negro folk life was a man of many talents. This man wrote poems and newspaper articles and became nationally recognized for his lyrical prose and poetry style. Who is Paul Laurence Dunbar Why he is the man Dayton, Ohio proudly claims as a native son!.
Paul Laurence Dunbar was born on June 27, 1872, to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, natives of Kentucky. Both of Dunbar's parents were former slaves who had escaped to freedom. Joshua served in the 5th Massachusetts Infantry and the 5th Massachusetts Colored Calvary Regiment during the Civil War (Addison). Joshua and Matilda had two children before they separated in 1874. .
Dunbar had a great home life! His mother was dedicated with inspiring him to achieve greatness. Matilda would tell Paul stories before he went to bed each night (Sci). These stories dealt with plantation life and the problems with his everyday life, and these stories were a great inspiration for Paul's writings. Some of Dunbar's poems are written in Southern dialect to reflect his mother's storytelling, Paul had a habit of listening to other people's speech pattern (Sci). Paul's wife, Alice Ruth Moore, who he married in 1898 and later divorced in 1902, was also a great inspiration. After reading many poems and researching Dunbar's life, I have found out that his love poems relate to his own love affairs. .
Growing up in a poor environment did not stop this ambitious child, who began to write at age six. Soon after Paul learned to write he began to go to school, where he was the only black child in his class. He went to school with the now famous Wright Brothers at Central High School. At Central he was a member of the debating society, editor of the school's paper, president of the schools literary society, and he graduated with honors. Paul was also known at his school because he composed the school song. .
After completing his years in school, Paul worked as an elevator operator in the Callahan Building in Dayton, where he sold his poems for one dollar each.