Dunbar's popularity increased rapidly after his work was praised by William Dean Howells, a leading editor associated with Harper's Weekly. Dunbar became one of the first African-American writers to establish an international reputation. In addition to his poems, short stories, and novels, he also wrote the lyrics for the musical comedy In Dahomey (1903), the first all-African-American musical produced on Broadway in New York. The musical later toured in the United States and the United Kingdom. Suffering from tuberculosis, which then had no cure, Dunbar died in Dayton, Ohio, at the age of 33.
Dunbar's popularity increased rapidly after his work was praised by William Dean Howells a leading editor associated with Harper's Weekly Dunbar became one of the first African-American writers to establish an international reputation In addition to his poems short stories and novels he also wrote the lyrics for the musical comedy In Dahomey (1903) the first all-African-American musical produced on Broadway in New York The musical later toured in the United States and the United Kingdom Suffering from tuberculosis which then had no cure Dunbar died in Dayton Ohio at the age of 33