Final answer:
Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem 'We Wear the Mask' is significant for its thematic exploration of African American identity and emotional struggle, rather than its formal structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem We Wear the Mask departs from traditional poetry mainly through its thematic focus on the dual identity and the psychological struggle of African Americans. This poem delves into the emotional toll of wearing a metaphorical mask to hide suffering and maintain an appearance of contentment in a racially oppressive society.
Dunbar's departure from tradition is not so much in his use of rhyme scheme, which is conventional, or his language, which is formal, but rather in his direct engagement with the theme of individual and collective identity within an African-American context, which was not commonly addressed in poetry at his time. This sort of thematic exploration becomes a hallmark of African-American literature and reflects shared experiences within the community.