The Dunbar Speaker and Entertainer

This is a reprint (with a new introduction by Akasha Hull) of a 1920 anthology prepared by Alice Moore Dunbar-Nelson (1875-1935). During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the American passion for lectures and oratorical displays as a form of public edification and entertainment included participation, to some extent, by African- American men and women. Recognizing its value for others of her race, Dunbar-Nelson prepared this anthology of poetry, prose, and dramatic readings by and about African Americans. Also included is Dunbar- Nelson's essay "The Poet and His Song," a critical appreciation of the life and work of her husband, the poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR