Rebecca Barnes

Zepp
English 4 HN
1 May 2015
I Wear the Mask
Expression is a basic component of the human structure and allows us to function with
others in society. In We Wear the Mask Paul Laurence Dunbar develops through his use of
symbolism, tone, and imagery the theme that the African-American community is hiding under
a mask to perceive seemingly satisfied with social matters, to avoid addressing deeper issues.
Dunbar was born 1872 in Dayton, Ohio. He had received a formal public school
education, but was taught to read by his mother, which allowed him to obtain knowledge and
wisdom of the reality of the living conditions of blacks in America. Matilda Murphy Dunbar and
Joshua Dunbar both passed down these experiences of their enslavement, specifically Joshua
Dunbar who escaped from slavery in Kentucky, and who then continued on to be a part of the
Massachusetts 55th regiment in the Civil War (Braxton). It is immensely possible Dunbar got his
inspiration to advocate for civil rights and higher education for blacks through literature from his
father who fought so passionately for those rights. The passion for writing started during his high
school years at Daytons Central High school being the only black student in the school. The
talent and creativity he exhibited was the aspect that distinguished him from the student body,
rather than his color. He was very much involved in writing being a part of the newspaper at the

high school (Braxton). He took inspiration for his literary work from poets such as William
Wordsworth, John Keats, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, many poets from the era of romanticism. It
shows in his work that he drew from these poets, with his use of the romantic language and
fluent lyricism. After graduation from high school in 1891, others went off to college while he
found a simple job at a hotel, not because he did not want to attend college, but rather because of
disadvantages and racial barriers (Braxton). The other employees gave him the nickname of
elevator boy poet because he would write poetry whilst he was on breaks. He was in invited to
read his poetry at a popular event for writers in 1892 by John Matthews. His exposure increased
from that point on. In 1893 Dunbar began to publish his works, starting with the poem oak and
ivy from there on he began to publish more and more. That year he began to attend more
gatherings for writers where he sold copies of his work to very influential people of his time and
the African-American society (Braxton). Dunbars most famous and recognized works being
Lyrics or Lowly Life and We Wear the Mask and others that are the most critically
acclaimed. The target audience of his writing is the black community, although his work can
reach various other audiences, he speaks often of the life and experiences of black culture in
perspectives and dialects that resonate personally to the culture (Braxton).
The mask in the We Wear the Mask is representative of the suppression of thoughts
and feelings of the black community typically worn for protective purposes, the learned defense
mechanism against the suppressors. In this instance the suppressor is assumed to be white
America. Black and whites have typically always been placed into generalized groupings of one
against the other or one doing represents the entire race. The struggles of black America is
spoken often of by Dunbar in previous poems such as the phenomenon Lyrics of Lowly Life
where he also discussed what it is like for Blacks in turn-of-the-century America (Braxton).

During Dunbars era of 1872-1906, being born merely seven years after slavery was abolished
being born of two slave parents racism was a dominant feature in his life and that society. Being
in an environment where lynching and segregation were legal and encouraged, the survival
instincts had to be adapted by blacks in order to protect their family and themselves masking the
anger of the racial injustice. During slavery, many masters and slaves had the social unspoken
rule of slaves speaking only when spoken to. Consequences of speaking or expressing anger
could lead to brutal violence, lynching, or death. Therefore the masking of emotions, ideas, and
feelings towards the white man developed, the hiding behind the mask with grins and lies to
survive (Dunbar). In modern day cases, for example an African- American not addressing the
topic of recent increasing murders of young members of the community by police officers to not
appear overly sensitive, or to not create tension between a colleague or friend, or remaining
indifferent all to maintain social normalcy, status, and acceptance are all uses of the mask. To
avoid addressing the deeper issues the route seems to be avoiding addressing any issue at all, in
Dunbars own words Nay, let them only see us, while/ we wear the mask, (Dunbar). Avoiding
the deeper issues is not so much as ignoring the issues more so avoiding the conflict that comes
with this complex history. Sadly, this is so embedded into society it has become institutionalized
to the point that the modern day African-American society can take on the mask unconsciously,
perhaps a generational instinct of survival that was passed down by those who first adapted to it.
The mask is the main symbol of the poem. The poem starts and ends with the phrase and
title of the poem We Wear the Mask. The beginning sets the tone for the entire passage and the
end establishes it. The mask covers the only the face. Dunbar uses the face as the anatomy of the
body being analyzed for the fact that is the most expressive part of the body. Within seconds an
individual can decipher a mood of another individual based solely off of the expressions of the

face. The mouth can depict a smile or a frown the distinct difference between the expressions of
joy, glee, content and the expressions of sorrow, dissatisfaction, or indignation. Dunbar stating
We wear the mask that grins and lies (Dunbar) in the opening sentence is a strategic way of
showing that this is the expression of the mask, not those who are casted behind it. The mouth
grins for the mouth that in reality frowns, this grin is the lie the expression of satisfaction is the
lie. It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes (Dunbar) these descriptions of the mask what it
does and how it looks provides imagery that allows the reader to imagine it literally and
figuratively. Indeed, cheeks have a significant relationship with the mouth and eyes. When a
smile is broad it reaches the cheeks that reach the eyes. Cheeks blush and flush color when
sparked with embarrassment, laughter, joy, or when tears stain the expanse. The cheek is an
expression in its own. The infamous phrase The eyes are the window to the soul is a belief that
some have acquired throughout time along with the social rule of to be respectful is looking a
person in the eye while speaking to them. The eyes are also an expression in itself, pupils dilate
when seeing an image of interest, excitement, or stimulation. When the feelings of sadness or
laughter strike the body this could lead to tears of mirth or sorrow. Tears that develop from these
emotions find their escape from the interior of the body to the exterior of the body through the
eyes, a significant gateway from the feeling being held inside by a person. Also the only part of
the body that secretes bodily fluid as an expression of emotion an open declaration of feelings.
All of this expression through the face being hidden under the mask is the significance of the
mask. It covers the pain that needs to be felt in order to be dealt with why should the world be
over-wise,/ in counting all our tears and sighs? (Dunbar) if a person does not see these emotions
they can never be addressed or sympathized with. If you cannot see the tears or cries, how does
one know the extent of the suffering? White America putting the mask on the African-America

community would be a tactic to dehumanize these emotions with fake perception. A mask is
typically a plastic representation of a face, the feature are stuck in an unchanging appearance. It
is unrealistic to remain in one state of being permanently, a false representation of human
emotion, especially the face that is constantly changing expressions. To have this symbolically
placed on a person is to mock and undermine the actual emotions. This used to be done
frequently as entertainment by white comedians, actors, or entertainers who would use what is
called black face. As a form of humor these entertainers would paint their faces in brown paint
or theatrical makeup to pose as a black person. The features were often exaggerated painted with
big wide-spread mouths and big noses.
Dunbar is stating firmly that We wear the mask. The people of the black community
wear the mask so this would also group himself under that label and has so shame doing so.
Putting himself in this category would make him a part of the act of wearing the mask yet
ironically the poem in itself is not. He is fully addressing the issue of having the burden of
feeling suppressed. This is shown through his tone why should the world be over-wise, in
counting all our tears and sighs? (Dunbar). A rhetorical question with a strong sarcastic
undertone to it. Why should the exact people inflicting the tears and sighs know the impact and
become wise in this knowledge? Maybe ignorance wont be as blissful. Maybe the issue will be
real and demanding to the point that it demands change. The cries for understanding will finally
be understood. But the knowledge of this would also weigh guilt heavily on a conscious, and
perhaps the truth behind mask is revealed by those who refuse to be casted behind it, but remains
in the eyes of those who wish not to see the deeper issue. Not only is Dunbar addressing the
issue but he does this in a highly lyrical manner, with his undertones of frustration and anger.
The poem has the familiar feel of a Negro spiritual. Songs sung by black slaves that provided

comfort and hope for freedom. It was something that was their own that the masters could not
take away, these Negro spirituals became a predominant part of black heritage. The spirituals
often consisted of crying out, singing of sorrows and frustration, and singing their prayers to
God. Religion was a huge part of the spirituals because the belief that God would free them is
what kept the will to survive alive. The last stanza of the poem parallels these aspects in saying:
We smile, but oh great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile,
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask! (Dunbar)
The words of the poem do not only resonate with one specific community but could reach
all audiences who has experiences the anguish that accompanies hiding behind and object either
as a form of avoidance or safety. It is typical of every individual to have felt at a time that it was
necessary to mask feelings or ideas. Dunbars use of strong language drawls forth the emotion
that most affects the reader. It is more likely of the reader to be influenced if impacted by the
emotion it stirs within. Dunbar does an exceptional job at describing the experiences of black
suffrage with vivid language. This was expressed by Dunbar to not only display what the
African-American community has been subjected to throughout history, but a plea with all
communities to address the experiences and to learn from it. Dunbar grouped himself into the
category of those who wear the mask as a black individual in the poem, but as the author

strategically addressed and expressed all the feelings being hidden under the mask. Dunbar is
establishing that is this can be addressed through his works it can be addressed by the AfricanAmerican community it is a call for initiative.

Work Cited

Braxton, Joanne M. "Dunbar's Life and Career." Dunbar's Life and Career. The Oxford
Companion to African American Literature, 1997. Web. 01 May 2015.

Dunbar, Paul Laurence. "We Wear the Mask." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web.
01 May 2015.