"Grave Lincoln came, strong handed, from afar."
- Paul Laurence Dunbar
Plaque reading: Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
Named in honor of the outstanding "Poet Laureate" of the Negro race, was dedicated
April 14, 1930 to replace Gibbs High School. Previously named THE NEGRO
SCHOOL OF INDUSTRIAL ARTS. Dunbar was a Junior - Senior High School
offering general education, college preparatory, and terminal trade courses until 1955.
Dunbar Jr. College was housed on the second floor. A Julius Rosenwald grant
of $67,500.00 and $30,000.00 from the school district promoted effort to build
the $0.5 million facility. Principals of Dunbar were Dr. John H. Lewis, Dr. William
H. Martin, and Dr. LeRoy M. Christophe.
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Paul Laurence Dunbar Paul Laurence Dunbar strikes a hauntingly familiar parallel with Abraham Lincoln. Both Dunbar and Lincoln loved and appreciate the poems of Robert Burns. Dunbar’s “My Sort O’ Man,” bears a strong resemblance to Burns’ poem “A Man’s A Man For A’ That,” which was also a favorite of Lincoln. Dunbar’s poem also stresses the heroism and honesty of the common man, something Lincoln also enjoyed in regards to Burns’ poetry.
Paul Dunbar was born on June 27, 1872, and grew up in Dayton, Ohio. His father escaped to Canada via the underground railroad, but came back to fight for the Union during the Civil War. Dunbar grew up with the Wright brothers and contributed articles to the West Side News, a paper belonging to the Wright brothers. It is said that the first issue featured an historical profile of Lincoln. His tribute poem to Lincoln was first published in 1913. Source: Philip Valenti, The Schiller Institute0 Lincoln
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