Do you like writing stories or poetry? If you enjoy writing at all, you and Paul Laurence Dunbar have something in common. Dunbar was born on June 27, 1872, in Dayton, Ohio, and was the child of former slaves. He grew up to be an internationally acclaimed poet, short story writer, novelist, dramatist, and lyricist. By the turn of the century, Dunbar was the most famous black writer in America.