We Wear the Mask

BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR

We wear the mask that grins and lies,

It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—

This debt we pay to human guile;

With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,

And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,

In counting all our tears and sighs?

Nay, let them only see us, while

       We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O 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!

Recently, a friend, Omolola Ajayi, and I were discussing a topic of interest for her African-American Literature class. She pondered writing a textual analysis on the poem, “We Wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar. A few of the reflections that developed out of this discussion are some of which I would like to share and expound upon with you all.

In 1896, the poem “We Wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar was published. This was during the era of Jim Crow and rightly so, this poem was befitting to that era and to the present day. Dunbar speaks of the mask that black people wear in order to hide their emotions from the white audience.  He speaks of this mask as being a form of protection from the true feelings felt within and from the societal pressures and influences in which one encounters. During the era of Jim Crow, we observe the mask most prominently in relation to racial etiquette, having to act in a certain manner in regards to interacting with the white audience. As Professor McKinney mentioned in class, examples of this mask being worn during this era  was when a black person would have to step off the sidewalk to allow a white person to pass, or when a black person had to refer to a white person as Sir or Madam regardless of age. Although, this mask protected one’s feelings, this mask was also a form of protection from the horrific repercussions that would be suffered if black people did not comply with the laws set forth by Jim Crow.

As I ponder about the possible riddance of the mask and the implications of this act, I’m reminiscent of the panel on race relations at Rhodes College that was held earlier this semester. Dr. McGowan proposed the question of why not eliminating the term “race” from being used in general, considering that this term continues to perpetuate racism and provides nothing more than a system of categorization. However, Dr. Gibson responded that discarding this word and eliminating its use is exterminating the foundation of which the lives of black people were built. Discarding this word essentially de-emphasizes and demoralizes the importance of a black person’s history and how that history has shaped who we are.  He mentions that to truly understand the historical significance and implications of the term “race” is to have embodied this word and been affected by this word or as he called it having an “existential and ontological” experience.  In relation to the mask, once it is taken off, will it be ignored? Will it be forgotten? Thus, ignoring and forgetting the historical significance for which it was worn.

Omolola and I discussed the concept of the mask as a shield. We deduced that although, the mask was a symbol of protection from the white audience, the mask was also harmful to those who wear it. Omolola posited that although armor protects the body from attack, if the armor is never taken off, the body loses strength and grows weaker. The mask should be taken off, but the historical importance and the emotion it embodied should not be forgotten.

Although I am discussing the mask and those who wear it from a perspective of racial identity, the mask is all encompassing. Variations of the mask include socioeconomic class, gender, homosexuality and a plethora of other issues. What are your comments on the wearing of the mask? How is this applicable to present day issues?

"We Wear the Mask." By Paul Laurence Dunbar : The Poetry Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2013.

"We Wear the Mask - Dunbar." We Wear the Mask - Dunbar. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2013.