An Ante-Bellum Sermon by Paul Laurence Dunbar Summary

The African American vernacular poetry “An Ante-Bellum Sermon” by Paul Laurence Dunbar examines issues of religion, freedom, and the prospect of emancipation. The poem, which is set in the antebellum (pre-Civil War) South during the era of slavery, is presented as a sermon delivered by an African American preacher to his audience. The preacher compares the bondage of the Israelites under Pharaoh in Egypt to the enslavement of African Americans through biblical imagery and narrative. The sermon, which cautiously avoids direct confrontation with the brutal facts of the day, is both a spiritual and subtly political message that inspires hope.

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Opening Lines: Comfort and Context

The preacher opens by describing the “howlin’ wilderness,” which is a metaphor for the difficult circumstances and hardships that enslaved people had to endure. He wants his audience to feel reassured and inspired. The biblical allusion used to preface his sermon’s topic is God’s summons to Moses in the Book of Exodus, to which Moses responds, “Hyeah am I.” This provides context for the poem’s main narrative, which is the Exodus story, which serves as a source of motivation and hope.

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The Story of Pharaoh and the Israelites

The preacher tells the ancient tale of the Israelites being forced into slavery by Pharaoh, the tyrannical king of Egypt. The pharaoh is referred to as the “wuss man evah bo’n,” signifying oppression and unfairness. The condition of African Americans in slavery is compared to the agony endured by the Israelites under Pharaoh’s tyranny. The sermon emphasizes how God, fed up with Pharaoh’s tyranny, sends Moses to demand that the Israelites be freed with the well-known order, “Let my people go.”

When Pharaoh declines, God employs a string of calamities to show off His might and compel Pharaoh to free the Israelites. In order to reassure his audience that divine intervention is always possible, the preacher highlights that Pharaoh’s army was no match for God’s power. The idea that God supports the afflicted and would eventually free them from their suffering is strengthened by this tale.

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Hope for Liberation

By establishing a comparison between the release of the Israelites and the future independence of African Americans, the preacher turns the attention to the present. He exhorts his audience to put their faith in God, who has the ability to “sen’ some Moses” in order to set them free. The speaker tells the crowd that God’s justice is imminent while admitting the oppression and difficulties that are now occurring. Any leader or force that will guide the slaves to liberation is symbolized by Moses.

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Warnings Against Misinterpretation

The preacher carefully explains his aims since he is aware of the dangers of publicly promoting disobedience. He takes a moment to emphasize that his lecture is “ancient” and based on the Bible rather than being a direct critique of current affairs. He stays clear of charges of causing unrest or dissatisfaction by doing this. This tactic illustrates the circumspect yet astute method in which enslaved people expressed resistance and optimism via religious narratives without immediately inciting their captors to retaliate.

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Universal Freedom and Biblical Teachings

The preacher goes on to say that everyone is entitled to freedom as part of God’s design for humanity. He emphasizes the intrinsic value and rights of every individual by citing the Bible, which states that “a servant is a-worthy of his hire.” By highlighting how slavery is incompatible with Christian doctrine, this sentence subtly criticizes the system. In support of the notion that God’s rules are superior than oppressive structures created by humans, the preacher states that “His almighty freedom should belong to evah man.”

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The Coming of Moses

The preacher continues the theme of optimism by announcing the arrival of Moses, the emancipation emblem. With the sound of “trompin’ feet” and “trumpit blas’,” his approach is nigh. This visual suggests that liberation is a real prospect rather than merely a far-off dream by evoking a sense of urgency and inevitable outcome. The preacher exhorts his audience to maintain their patience and faith while cautioning them against becoming arrogant or overconfident.

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Final Vision of Freedom

The preacher vividly describes the day of release that lies ahead in the concluding sentences. The enslaved people will rejoice their newfound freedom and give thanks to God with “halleluyahs” when Moses arrives and frees them. A “mighty reck’nin’ day” when they are acknowledged as equals in God’s and society’s sight and as complete citizens is what the preacher imagines. He grounds the crowd in humility and dependence on divine direction, nevertheless, by concluding with a call to prayer.

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