Phillis Wheatley an Ex-African - 1082 Words

Melecia Brice Mr. Barry Hall American Lit. 1: Fri. 9-11:45am 25 March 2011 Phillis Wheatley an Ex-African Phillis Wheatley born in Gambia, Africa in 1753 was the first early African American slave poet. â€Å"A kidnapped African slave child, aged about seven years old† (Lauter 1297), she was brought to Boston where she was sold to John and Susanna Wheatley. Phillis Wheatley’s first name was not given to her at birth she acquired her name by the ship that carried her to America in which it was name â€Å"The Phillis†. Susanna Wheatley chose the young African slave, because of her â€Å"humble and modest demeanor and the interesting features of the little stranger† (Odell 9). Phillis soon after being adopted into the Wheatley family â€Å"experienced†¦show more content†¦In one of Phillis’ poem entitled â€Å"On Being Brought from Africa to America†, it states: Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, Taught my benighted soul to understand That there’s a God, that there’s a Saviour too: In this poem she is clearly stating that she was removed from her â€Å"Pagan Land† which is Africa, to be relocated in a place where there was much criticism and racial segregation. She was taught the ways of Christian belief and she implies that through God’s mercy she was able to overcome. She believed that God would not turn his back on her and that he would comfort through the trials she faced in the society in which she lived. Phillis Wheatley is a great African American poet, and is recognized for that today, but back then in the 18th century she wasn’t received so graciously and it was a struggle for her to reach further in her literary works. She manages to stay strong and allowed her Christian faith to carry her through her time of rejection by whites of her generation. She still pursued her dreams and tried to get â€Å"thirty-three poems and thirteen letters† printed (Lauter 1298). â€Å"In the Boston Magazine for September, 1784, there would be printed a final solicitation for subscribers to this third volume, but there would be no such book in print by the time Phillis Wheatley died three months later on December 5† (Lauter 1298). Work Cited Lauter, Paul, RichardShow MoreRelatedComparisons and Contrasts of Phillis Wheatley and Paul Laurence Dunbar684 Words   |  3 PagesComparisons and Contrasts of Phillis Wheatley and Paul Laurence Dunbar The purpose of this essay is to clearly acknowledge similarities as well as differences amongst two great writers: Phyllis Wheatley and Paul L. Dunbar. Wheatley and Dunbar were two brilliant African American writers born of two different centuries. Both began writing at an early age and were seen as black child prodigies of their times. The points of comparison these two writers share are that they were both iconicRead MoreLiterature Has The Power Of Literature3178 Words   |  13 Pagesvolume of his work would soon overshadow the accomplishments of the poet Phillis Wheatley, the first important black literary figure in America. Phillis Wheatley was born in Africa, then captured when she was a child of seven and sold in Boston to the wife of a successful tailor. Her mistress was the soul of kindness. Recognizing how intelligent her servant was, she began to educate her. After sixteen months of study, Wheatley was speaking English fluently, reading the King James Version of the HolyRead MoreAfrican American Women Under Slavery Essay2412 Words   |  10 PagesAfrican American Women Under Slavery This paper discusses the experiences of African American Women under slavery during the Slave Trade, their exploitation, the secrecy, the variety of tasks and positions of slave women, slave and ex-slave narratives, and significant contributions to history. Also, this paper presents the hardships African American women faced and the challenges they overcame to become equal with men in today’s society. Slavery was a destructive experience for African Americans