Connotation is A. the dictionary meaning of a word
B. the opposite meaning of a word
C. the unlikely meaning of a word
D. the emotional meaning of a word

D. the emotional meaning of a word

the answer is:  

he is voicing feelings shared by all humans regardless of race.

in paul laurence dunbar's poem "we wear the mask," he replicates the words mask and we to emphasize how people in general -not just black americans- hide their true feelings. he suggests the masks cover people's faces and eyes, which are the main parts that display their emotions. he also thinks people's pain conceal behind those masks, so that they cannot see reality and nobody is able to see one another's sorrow.