We Wear the Mask

We Wear the Mask: Paul Laurence Dunbar and the Politics of Representative Reality, Volume 1, is a comprehensive work of literary criticism. This anthology gathers significant scholarship on Paul Laurence Dunbar, the first African American poet to achieve national recognition. The text examines Dunbar's prolific output, including his poetry, novels, and short stories, which explore the struggle against prejudice and the legacy of slavery in post-Civil War America.

Willie J Harrell Jr assembles essays that analyze Dunbar's use of dialect, rhetorical strategies, and narrative theory to promote racial uplift. These studies situate the author's work within the Reconstruction era and contrast his writing against early twentieth century racial stereotypes. This volume provides critical insights for students and scholars of African American literature and poetry, focusing on the evolving identity of the black community.