Paul Laurence Dunbar #1092
$ 8.00
Caption from poster__
" The Lord had a job for me, but I had so mjuch to
do, I said, "You get somebody else-or wait till I get
through." I don't know how the Lord came out, but
He seemed to get along. But I felt kindasneakin'
like 'cause I know I done Him wrong. One day I
needed the Lord Needed Him myself needed
Him right away, And He never answered me at
all but I could hear Him say Down in my accusin'
heart, "Nigger, I'se got too mush to do, You get
somebody else or wait till I get through."
Paul Laurence Dunbar was born in Dayton Ohio on June 27, 1872. His
father, Joseph and Mother Mitilda Murphy Dunbar were emancipated
slaves. He graduated from Central High school with honors. He also
served as editor of the school newspaper and was the class poet.
Unable to attend college, he obtained a job as an elevator operator
and wrote poetry in his free time. He published his first book of poetry,
Oak and Ivy, at his own expense in 1893. His second book, Majors
and Minors, was published two years later. Due to the success of
Majors and Minors he was able to publish a third volume of Poetry
in 1896, Lyrics of Lowly Life, which was printed by a major publishing
company. This was his most popular volume. This book contained
poems written in the dialect of Southern Blacks. The success of this
volume enabled Mr. Dunbar the opportunity to travel to England. Upon
his return to the United States he was hired as an assistant in the
Library of Congress. In 1898, he married Alice Moore, but they
separated in 1901. Dunbar contracted tuberculosis when he was almost
thirty. He tried various cures, alcohol being one of them, and he became
addicted. Sick and discouraged over the lack of success of Heart of
Happy Hollow (1904), he returned to Dayton where he died on February
9, 1906.
