Phillis Weathley and Slavery In America

Phillis Wheatley (1753-84) Phillis Wheatley; born in 1753 in West Africa, was first African-American poet and first-published African-American woman,

At the age of 7, Wheatley was brought to Boston, Massachusetts on July 11, 1761 on a slave ship called The Phillis, received her name from this slave ship and surname from her ‘’purchaser’’ John Wheatley,

Typical Colonizer attitude towards slaves; 1- Change Name, 2- Christianise,

Wheatleys raised Phillis more as a daughter than a slave, She learned to speak and write English, astronomy, history very quickly, taught by Mary Wheatley, the 18 years old daughter of her owner and within 16 months she could even read difficult passages in the Bible

Phillis Wheatley (1753-84) Phillis Wheatley; at the age of 12, began studying Latin and English literature, especially the poetry of Alexander Pope, soon translating Ovid into heroic couplets,

She was strongly influenced by the works of Alexander Pope, John Milton, Homer, Horace and Virgil that Phillis Wheatley began to publish her first poetry,

Many came to visit her with this "lively and brilliant conversationalist"

Phillis's place was designated by her white world, and she was virtually cut off from her own people (isolation), but she was definitely still a slave, although a privileged one,

No Social Equality between black & whites,

In 1773, at the age of 20 the family had Phillis accompany their son Nathaniel Wheatley to London, had an audience with the Lord Mayor of London, as well as with other significant members of British society

Phillis Wheatley (1753-84) Phillis Wheatley; A collection of her poetry, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral was published in London during this visit.

Voltaire; "became the most famous African on the face of the earth "

The death of Mrs. Wheatley in 1774 and the Revolutionary War changed her life

War, not poetry, became the major concern, she emancipated, married with John Peters, worked in harsh conditions, lost three children and died 31 in a miserable condition…

On Being Brought from Africa to America Phillis Wheatley is describing her transition of physically being brought from her native land to America. In saying that it was “Mercy” that allowed her to come to this place shows that she was grateful for her enslavement because it introduced her to Christianity.

Term “benighted” is an indicator not only of her skin color but the ignorance associated with black people. However, the ignorance she refers to is not the typical idea.

Anglo-Saxon x Africans = Equality? By using the word “Remember”, the author is taking a position of power as if she already has grasp on the reader. In the way she positions the words “Christians” and “Negros” and saying that they ALL might be refined and join the train to heaven.

Phrases like "sable race" and "diabolic die," poem weighted with racial tensions in America during the 18th century, especially between blacks and whites. Wheatley boldly addresses her belief in equality among races throughout the poem, and shows how her conversion to Christianity is proof that all people are equal, regardless of their skin color.

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