Phillis Wheatley

Vince Tang
English 48A
Journal for P. Wheatley
November 20, 2011

Reading Quote:

“Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,/ May be refined, and join the angelic train” (Lines 7-8).

Research Quote:

“Wheatley was fortunate in her surroundings, for Susannah Wheatley was sympathetic toward this very frail and remarkably intelligent child” (751).

Summary of Reading Quote:

The speaker is reminding Christians that their religion is not limited to a single race.

Response:

With the mention of slavery, some may react with thoughts of brutal beatings, toilsome labor, or endless hunger. These thoughts, as well as many other inhumane treatments should not be ignored, but it would be narrow-minded to think that all slaves suffered immeasurably. In Lies My Teacher Told Me, Loewen mentions that the textbook Life and Liberty says, “…whipping was common in some places, unheard of on other plantations” (138). Although Phillis Wheatley was aware of cruel slave owners, she is one of the fortunate slaves who did not suffer intense inhumane treatment. We should not say that she was fortunate to be a slave, but her poetry shows an optimistic appreciation for life rather than a pessimistic perspective of not being free. Wheatley’s poem, On Being Brought from Africa to America, is such an example. A first time reader would expect the poem to literally be about a struggling slave brought from Africa to America. However, the poet speaker unexpectedly shows gratitude in discovering Christianity and encourages spreading the message of Christ. This shows how far Christian slave owners who live by the words of the bible can go. By spreading their sympathy and compassion through their faith in God, one can say that another soul is saved. In fact, it goes further than this. The speaker reminds the reader that Christianity is not limited to a single race. Wheatley uses her poem to express her gratitude and view of a religion introduced to her. Looking outside of religion, her poem is an example of the common saying “kindness goes a long way”.