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NTRODUCTION These poems have a special interest for all theraces of man because they are sung by a pureblooded Negro. They are the first significantexpression of that race in poetry. We triedfaithfully to give a position in our literature toPaul Laurence Dunbar. We have excessivelywelcomed other black poets of minor talent, seek-ing in their music some distinctive quality otherthan the fact that they wrote it. But here forthe first time we find our literature vividly en-riched by a voice from this most alien raceamong us. And it should be illuminating toobserve that while these poems are characteristicof that race as we most admire it—they aregentle-simple, candid, brave and friendly, quickof laughter and of tears—yet they are still morecharacteristic of what is deep and universal inmankind. There is no special or exotic kind ofmerit in them, no quality that demands a trans-mutation of our own natures to perceive. Justas the sculptures and wood and ivory carvings of
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