In 1847, the Republic of Liberia was established by the American Colonization Society as a settlement for freed African Americans. This initiative aimed to provide a solution to the issue of slavery in the United States by relocating freed individuals to Africa. Liberia's founding was significant as it represented a complex intersection of race, identity, and geopolitics, influencing the social dynamics of both the United States and West Africa. The republic would later become a symbol of African self-governance and independence.

The establishment of the Republic of Liberia in 1847 resonated deeply within the literary community, influencing poets like Paul Laurence Dunbar and others who embraced pan-African themes. Their works often reflected the aspirations of African Americans for freedom and cultural identity, intertwining with abolitionist sentiments.