Paul Laurence Dunbar We Wear The Mask

Paul Laurence Dunbar, the author of the poem “We Wear the Mask '' was a symbol for the African Americans in the late 1800’s. Dunbar was born on June 27, 1872 and died on February 9, 1906. He was married to Alice Dunbar Nelson. He was born with enslaved parents. He began writing poems and stories as a young child. Dunbar was the first African American writer to experience diverse forms before a broader audience. He represented the African American community, he was a scholar. He showed the community what they could be. Since he was America’s most popular poet in the 20th century, he was raised excessively. He was considered “the most important African American writer” (Claridge). His position in history of African American literature and reputation

In the lines 1-2, shows how they are hiding who they are. They are deceiving. “This debt we pay,” shows how unhappy they are while deceiving others (Dunbar 3). Dunbar’s attitude stays consistent throughout the poem. He is depressed, unhappy, in pain, and suffering. Line 8 conveys how Dunbar is depressed,”Nay, let them only see us, while we wear the mask.” To show how he is unhappy he talks about “debt we pay to human guile”(Dunbar 3). He pays his debt or in other words his consequences for being African American. They have to pay for their race. The African American race is in pain,” With torn bleeding hearts”(Dunbar 4). Dunbar reveals this about their true emotions and how they feel. The mask hides all this pain and suffering from others. The African Americans have been punished and they are “tortured souls”(Dunbar

As Brown suggests that the poem relates to gay male identities, Johnson claims “no matter what ethnicity “we wear we will all wear the mask”(Johnson 1). The difference between the 2 poems is that one only talks about 1 race but the other doesn’t bring race into it. Johnson says that “We wear the mask to disguise the hurt,” the hurt and pain that lives in our lives (Johnson 2). Johnson uses the poem through his sermon at Light of the World Christian Church. He references the poem to christ. “He told you he loved you when you were alone,” this is the pain some experience (Johnson 2). Johnson says to the people that Christ cares and loves you no matter your ethnicity and past. Johnson keeps referencing to show what we shouldn’t do. He compares Christ to show that we are nothing like him and need to change the ways we look at others. We need to be able to make everyone feel comfortable in their true colors. No one needs to hide their true identities and