Paul Laurence Dunbar was born as the son of Matilda and Joshua Dunbar on June 27, 1872 in Dayton, Ohio. Both of his parents were both slaves from Kentucky. Matilda was very interested in learning, so she had attended school. Shortly after attending school, Matilda learned the English language. Paul's mother had two sons from a previous marriage to another slave who joined the army and was never heard from again. That marriage predated Emancipation. Paul was the only child Matilda and Joshua had together during their short marriage. Paul's parents divorced when he was still a young boy. Shortly after the divorce, Paul's father (Joshua Dunbar) died when he was twelve. When Matilda's other two children moved on with their lives and moved away, all her attention was turned to her son Paul. Since his mother was educated, she taught Paul to read and showed him some literary works. When his father was alive, both of Paul's parents told him stories of their times as slaves. This began Paul's thinking and interests and became the foundation...