Understanding the NYT Article "On Being Brought from Africa"

Phillis Wheatley⁚ A Voice from the Past

Phillis Wheatley (c․ 1753-1784) was an enslaved African American woman who became the first published African American poet in the United States․ Her most famous poem, "On Being Brought from Africa to America," was published in 1773 in her collection "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral․" This poem is a powerful exploration of the experiences of an enslaved person and a critique of the institution of slavery․ "On Being Brought from Africa to America" is a short, eight-line poem structured with a rhyme scheme of AABBCCDD, making it a simple and consistent pattern for Wheatley's straightforward message․ The poem is written in iambic pentameter, making it a formal and elegant piece․

A Life Shaped by Slavery

Phillis Wheatley's life was profoundly shaped by the institution of slavery․ Born in West Africa around 1753, she was captured and brought to Boston, Massachusetts, as a young girl in 1761․ She was purchased by John Wheatley, a wealthy merchant, and his wife, Susanna․ The Wheatleys recognized her intelligence and potential, and they provided her with an education, including instruction in Latin and classical literature․ This was an unusual opportunity for an enslaved person at the time, and it allowed Wheatley to develop her extraordinary literary talents․ Despite her education, Wheatley remained enslaved throughout her life, and her experiences of oppression and injustice are evident in her writing․ The stark contrast between her intellectual prowess and her lack of freedom would have profoundly impacted her․ "On Being Brought from Africa to America" is a testament to her ability to articulate her complex feelings about her life as an enslaved person in a powerful and moving way․

"On Being Brought from Africa to America"

Wheatley's most famous poem, "On Being Brought from Africa to America," is a powerful and moving reflection on the experience of being enslaved․ In the poem, she explores themes of redemption, Christianity, and the complex relationship between Africa and America․ The poem begins with the lines⁚ "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⁚ Once I redemption neither sought nor knew․" Here, Wheatley suggests that her enslavement was a form of divine intervention, a "mercy" that allowed her to be exposed to Christianity and find redemption․ However, the poem also critiques the hypocrisy of those who claim to be Christian while simultaneously supporting slavery․ Wheatley's poem is a powerful challenge to the racist assumptions of the time, and it has been praised for its eloquence, its intellectual depth, and its enduring message of hope and resilience․

Themes of Redemption and Christianity

In "On Being Brought from Africa to America," Wheatley explores the complex themes of redemption and Christianity․ She begins the poem by suggesting that her enslavement was a form of divine intervention, a "mercy" that allowed her to be exposed to Christianity and find redemption․ She writes⁚ "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⁚ Once I redemption neither sought nor knew․" This suggests that Wheatley believes her enslavement has led her to a greater understanding of Christianity and has allowed her to find salvation․ However, the poem also critiques the hypocrisy of those who claim to be Christian while simultaneously supporting slavery; Wheatley writes⁚ "Some view our sable race with scornful eye, Their colour is a diabolic die․" This line suggests that Wheatley believes that some Christians are racist and hypocritical, and that they do not truly follow the teachings of Christ․ Overall, the poem explores the complex relationship between Christianity and slavery, and it challenges the racist assumptions of the time․