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Paul Laurence Dunbar supports the idea of The American Dream in his writing because his work depicts people who had to overcome adversity and obstacles that had to do with racism. Dunbar wrote about what it was like before the civil war for people who had little to no rights. In many of his poems he talks about african american heroes. He talks about how they worked hard and they gained a little bit of respect. Dunbar seems to think that if he keeps writing to the best of his ability he will gain more power and respect.

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Paul Laurence Dunbar was “the first African American author to gain national recognition and a wide popular audience”. In high school he was an editor of the school newspaper. After high school the high demand for his work was able to support him very well for an African American. He made a great living because most of the African American community was inspired by his writing/poetry. Most of his stories consisted of black folk characters. His work started getting into popular magazines in the 1890’s, proving that if he worked hard enough he could start to get to where he had always wanted to be.

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Many people nowadays consider Paul Laurence Dunbar as the “most important African American poet of his time”. This is because of the impact that he made on so many people. Dunbar had a short career but reached a national audience because of the way he wrote and how his writing touched people. He would compose many of his poems while working as an elevator operator after school. He graduated in 1891 as the only black student at his high school. After graduating he would read poetry to white, black, and mixed race audiences. Dunbar’s ability to speak to many people in the nation really trumpeted him as the best poet in his time.

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When Dunbar wrote Douglass Slavery was a big problem that he thought he could influence in a positive way. After he wrote the poem he turned into one of the biggest anti-slavery leaders ever. He was able to work his way up in the writing world. Douglass is about an African American man who worked very hard. Douglass is based on the African American figure Frederick Douglass. Douglass was a slave in the 1800’s, who was dedicated to do his dream and become an influential public speaker. Dunbar says someone “tells Douglass that the struggles of the black people continue”. Paul Laurence Dunbar’s goal by writing this was to end racial discrimination.

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Paul Laurence Dunbar had always desired to be on top, he wanted to be the best author ever. This source talks about the hardships in his life. The actual poem starts with a weak statement making the reader feel the tone as miserable/sad. He talks about how the joy in his life came from his “lover” and being a writer. Dunbar writes that he did not have a lot of joy in life. The happiness in his life was very slim.