* Giving voice to the African American experience: Dunbar was a powerful advocate for his community. His works, often written in vernacular language, realistically depicted the lives, struggles, and joys of Black people during a period of immense social and political change. This included themes of racism, poverty, hope, and resilience.
* Challenging racial prejudice: Through his poignant and often humorous writing, Dunbar aimed to challenge the prevailing stereotypes and prejudices of his time. He sought to show the humanity and complexity of Black Americans, moving beyond the narrow, often demeaning representations prevalent in the literature of the era.
* Elevating Black culture and language: Dunbar's work celebrated African American culture and the beauty of Black vernacular English. He aimed to demonstrate its richness and expressiveness, highlighting its unique contributions to the fabric of American language and literature.
* Exploring themes of identity and belonging: Dunbar's characters grapple with questions of identity, belonging, and finding their place in a society that often excluded them. His works explored the challenges and triumphs of navigating a world marked by racial divisions.
Key Works:
* "We Wear the Mask" (poem): A powerful exploration of the duality of Black experience, portraying the mask worn to hide pain and vulnerability.
* "The Sport of the Gods" (novel): Explores the harsh realities of racism and its impact on a Black family trying to build a life in the South.
* "Lyrics of Lowly Life" (poetry collection): A landmark collection that established Dunbar's reputation as a significant voice in African American literature.
In summary, Paul Laurence Dunbar's life's work was dedicated to using literature as a tool for social change, representing the complexities of Black American life, and contributing to the development of a distinctly Black literary tradition.