Paul Laurence Dunbar We Wear Mask

What does it mean to be a poet? Who is considered to be a good poet? There is only one answer to the questions, and the answer is that poet who can bring emotions through their work are considered a very good poet. Paul Laurence Dunbar is the best African- American poet of the 19th century and early 20th century. His work leaves behind a legacy. Especially the poem “We Wear Mask”. The poem strongly conveys the struggle, the inner experience, and the humiliation of the African- American community.
Fighting against stereotypes. People fighting for equality has been coming generation after generation. “We wear the mask” strongly emphasizes the struggle of the people. In the 17th and 18th century slavery was a big part of the culture. The culture

Our inner experience is the most valuable things. Through this poem, Paul Laurence Dunbar enhances the inner experience of the African- American and just what they felt inside and he compares it to what they presented outside to others and for slaves to their owners. In other words, “We wear the mask” has some of the real horrifying truths about the era. For example, Dunbar states in his poem that “We wear the mask that grins and lies, it hides our cheeks and shades our eyes. . .” (1-2). He is portraying African- American as the victim of the people with power. “We wear the mask that grins and lies…” (1), is the symbol of their inner experience, the truth that is hidden within them. Because I believe that not having the freedom to express our feeling, just makes us feel as if we are not a human being. For me, this poem is explained all the suffering slaves had to go through and the feeling of heartbroken. It simplifies the whole meaning of being free but living in a societal prison. What I mean by that is that, in this poem, Dunbar does express to us as the reader that sometimes what behaves might not be their correct representation, sometimes they are hiding many burdens within them but does not have the courage to speak to people about them. The culture of slavery is abolished but still, they have to prove themselves. “We wear the mask” can not only be related to African- American community only, because nowadays our society has made all these stereotypes that people are being forced to go along with