Paul Laurence Dunbar

Frederick Douglass once said described Paul Laurence Dunbar as “the most promising young colored man in America.” Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906) was one of the first African-American poets to gain national recognition, and his work and life remains influential to this day. The poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar draws on the African-American experiences of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and he is known for writing poems in standard English and in dialect associated with the Antebellum South. In this episode, we feature unforgettable interpretations of this prolific poet's work from some of our favorite tellers, Mitch Capel and Oni Lasana.