Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem "We Wear The Mask"

Some imagery for this beautiful poem for many that do not know written by Deanna.


Clay is a natural product in nature that is earthy, moist material but when fired
or intensely heated it becomes hard. This a metaphor, comparing the African Americans to the clay substance as a warning that provoking or being fired, and enraged causes them to become hardened to the world, to become calloused and eventually turn on the world completely. Dunbar describes this process as "vile", showing that he understands the repercussions of the bigot's actions and that he disapproves. He also understands that it is a journey "along the mile" to the point of acceptance and forgiveness, the end of the struggle, and that it cannot just end with one poem."But let the world dream otherwise", unaware of the intensity of the battle and continuing to think that everything can be fixed. Paul Laurence Dunbar obvisiously feels that people are blind to the injustice of racial discrimination. The way he discusses the world in a cloudy, dream-like divide further stresses the idea of the mask, concealing the outside from the in. Paul Laurence Dunbar's "We Wear The Mask" is loaded with duplicity in that every statement, while having it's own meaning, can be interpreted to support his theme of masquerade. This theme or main idea is very important to the purpose of this poem because it illustrates his opinions of how the world reacts and copes with racism. He did this by beautifully writing each word to be weighted with sensual meaning and to have two faces, such that of his mysterious mask.

THANK ME LATER

DRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKEDRAKE!
TODAY BABY TODAY!

Graduation

Didn't turn out the way I had expected, but it did however, come. Nonetheless, it was enjoyable. Something/ some people hurt me, but I'll not think of that. Toast for the yesterdays and I'll HOPE for a bright tomorrow.

Be fair. If not then don't fuck with me.

Prom :)

Why doesn't anyone want me to be happy? I just go to prom with a friend and everything gets blown out of proportion with lies and misunderstandings. It's just a fucking joy for people to bring me down. Even my own brother. This life, is not for me.

LIES.

I'm really fucking pissed right now. People need to shut the fuck up, seriously. They don't know me man! And when they try to get to know me, they don't like what they see so they sit there and gossip to each other about everything. Shit that is not even true. And I hate how I am crying over this bullshit rumour. It hurts me because I think it's fine for us to be friends and how he still talks to me like a good friend but then he fucking tells people some shit that is not even true. That's what is painful. How could someone be so nice to your face and then a fucking two-faced bastard the next. I hate how I don't know who the fuck my real friends are. I hate how this crowd I got into is tearing my life apart. If it wasn't for my family I would suicide. I never have ever been in any type of drama or rumour shit like this ever. People need to one, get their facts straight because I DO NOT ROLL LIKE THAT. And two, they need to keep my name out of their fucking mouth.