Daniely ModestoEngl 48A
Phillis Wheatley
"After the death of John Wheatley and his wife, Phillis married John Peters, a free black man, who ran a small grocery store in Boston. The business was unsuccessful and Phillis was forced to find work as a servant. Phillis Wheatley died in poverty in Boston on 5th December, 1784."
Spartacus Educational.
On Being Brought from Africa to America.
“Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain, May be refined, and join the angelic train”
Wheatley in this poem describes her anger against racism that African American suffered and they lost of identity. Wheatley points out the idea that slaves are as intelligent as the whites and that by the law of God, we are all the same and that they should have legal rights.
To the University of Cambridge in New England
The poet makes a clear distinction between her and the students, however she still points out that they are all the same. The poet calls the attention for the whites- to think about the religious aspects “How Jesus’ blood for your redemption flows. /See Him with hands outstretched upon the cross” explaining the idea that Christian people are enslaving the blacks, and that it is not right from the God’s eyes.
To His Excellency George Washington
“While freedom’s cause her anxious breast alarms, she flashes dreadful in refulgent arms”
In this poem, Wheathey writes a letter to General Washington before the American Independency with the theme of freedom. She describes the struggle from the colonialism to be free from England.
To S. M., a Young African Painter, on Seeing His Works
In this poem Wheatley encourage and gives power to the imagination of an artist.”When first thy pencil did those beauties give” Wheatley says his words create vivid images on the reader’s head and she tries to understand the process of his imagination.
