Unveiling Racist Institutions in “The Haunted Oak” by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Which institutions does Dunbar attack through these identifications?

In the poem, Dunbar attacks through these identifications to the legal institution, represented by a judge, who is described wearing a black mask, also refers to the medical institution, as it describes a doctor wearing a white mask; and finally attacks the institution of the Church, because Dunbar describes a minister, with his eldest son. All this is clearly the way to expose how every part of American and white society is racist, and engage both the professionals, the high church members, as well as the representatives of the judiciary power, all involved in the horrible act of lynching a old African-American man.

Understanding the Institutions Attacked by Dunbar

Legal Institution: In “The Haunted Oak,” the judge wearing a black mask represents the legal institution that should uphold justice and fairness. By including this figure in the poem, Dunbar highlights the complicity of the legal system in perpetuating racism and allowing acts of violence like lynching to occur without repercussions.

Medical Institution: The description of a doctor wearing a white mask in the poem serves as a critique of the medical institution. This imagery suggests that even professionals in the healthcare field may be involved in or turn a blind eye to acts of racism and violence against African-Americans.

Institution of the Church: The presence of a minister and his eldest son in the poem points to the complicity of the Church in perpetuating racist attitudes and actions. By including religious figures in the narrative of the lynching, Dunbar emphasizes how deeply rooted racism is within societal institutions, including those associated with faith and morality.

Overall, Dunbar's identification of these institutions in “The Haunted Oak” serves as a powerful critique of American society and its systemic racism. It exposes how deeply ingrained racist beliefs and behaviors are across various sectors of society, regardless of profession or social standing.