In 1768, a powerful poem titled On Being Brought from Africa to America appeared in print, written by a young African woman who had survived enslavement and displacement. The writer,Phillis Wheatley, would later become one of the most important early African American poets in history. Her words carried complex meanings about faith, race, freedom, and identity. At a time when slavery shaped the social and economic systems of colonial America, Wheatley’s voice stood out as both surprising and revolutionary. Understanding the historical background, themes, and literary impact of On Being Brought from Africa to America helps modern readers see how one short poem published in 1768 continues to influence conversations about race, religion, and humanity.
The Writer Behind the Poem
Phillis Wheatley’s Early Life
Phillis Wheatley was born in West Africa around 1753. As a child, she was captured and transported across the Atlantic during the transatlantic slave trade. She was brought to Boston, Massachusetts, and sold to the Wheatley family in 1761. Unlike many enslaved individuals, Phillis was taught to read and write by her enslavers. She quickly showed remarkable intelligence and literary talent.
By the time she was a teenager, Wheatley was reading classical literature, studying the Bible, and composing poetry. Her education allowed her to develop a sophisticated writing style that reflected the influence of eighteenth-century British poets. However, her lived experience as an enslaved African girl gave her work a unique and powerful perspective.
Publication in 1768
On Being Brought from Africa to America was first published in 1768. At that time, it was highly unusual for an African woman, especially one who was enslaved, to publish poetry. Many readers in colonial America doubted that a Black writer could produce refined literary work. Wheatley’s publication challenged racist assumptions about intelligence and humanity.
Historical Context of 1768
To fully understand On Being Brought from Africa to America, it is important to consider the historical setting. In 1768, slavery was legal in all thirteen American colonies. Enslaved Africans were treated as property, and racial prejudice was deeply rooted in society.
Christianity played a major role in colonial life. Many slaveholders used religion to justify slavery, claiming it brought spiritual salvation to Africans. Wheatley’s poem reflects this religious environment while also quietly challenging racial bias.
Main Themes in On Being Brought from Africa to America
Religion and Redemption
The poem begins with the line, ‘Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land. At first glance, this statement seems to suggest gratitude for being taken from Africa. Wheatley refers to Christianity as a source of salvation and spiritual enlightenment.
However, the tone is complex. Some scholars believe Wheatley used the language of Christian gratitude strategically. By framing her forced journey as mercy, she may have been speaking in a way that white Christian readers would accept. At the same time, she subtly shifts the focus toward equality.
Equality and Human Dignity
One of the most powerful lines in the poem is Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain, / May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train. In these closing lines, Wheatley addresses Christians directly. She reminds them that Black people can achieve spiritual salvation just like white believers.
This statement challenges racist interpretations of religion. By emphasizing shared humanity under God, Wheatley calls for moral reflection. She does not openly attack slavery, but she questions the belief that race determines worth.
Irony and Subtle Protest
Although the poem is short, it contains layers of meaning. Some readers interpret it as a subtle protest against slavery. The phrase black as Cain references a biblical story often misused to justify racial discrimination. Wheatley reclaims this reference to argue for spiritual equality.
The irony lies in how she uses the language of her oppressors to critique their attitudes. Rather than confronting slavery directly, she highlights contradictions within Christian values.
Literary Style and Structure
On Being Brought from Africa to America is written in heroic couplets, a popular poetic form in the eighteenth century. Heroic couplets consist of rhyming pairs of lines written in iambic pentameter. This formal structure reflects Wheatley’s classical education.
Her writing style demonstrates careful word choice and controlled tone. The poem is brief but precise. Its simplicity makes its message accessible while its deeper meaning invites analysis.
- Formal structure using rhymed couplets
- Religious imagery drawn from Christianity
- Biblical references
- Subtle rhetorical persuasion
These literary techniques helped Wheatley gain credibility among white readers who valued classical style and religious themes.
Critical Interpretations Over Time
Over the centuries, scholars have debated the meaning of On Being Brought from Africa to America. Some early critics argued that the poem showed acceptance of slavery. They focused on the opening line and interpreted it as genuine gratitude.
Modern scholars often take a more nuanced view. They recognize that Wheatley lived in a society where direct criticism of slavery could be dangerous. Her survival depended on navigating complex social expectations. By embedding her message within Christian language, she could express ideas about equality without openly confronting the system.
This layered interpretation highlights the courage and intelligence behind her work.
The Impact on American Literature
Phillis Wheatley’s poem holds an important place in American literary history. As one of the first published African American poets, she paved the way for future writers. Her success challenged the belief that people of African descent lacked intellectual ability.
Later African American authors built upon Wheatley’s legacy. Writers such as Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs would address slavery more directly in the nineteenth century. Wheatley’s contribution marked an early step in a long tradition of Black literary expression.
Relevance in Modern Discussions
Today, On Being Brought from Africa to America is studied in literature and history classrooms across the United States. It encourages discussions about race, religion, colonialism, and identity.
Modern readers often examine how oppressed individuals use language to survive and resist. Wheatley’s poem serves as an example of how literature can function as both adaptation and subtle critique.
The poem also invites reflection on how historical narratives are shaped. For years, enslaved voices were excluded from official records. Wheatley’s publication in 1768 provides rare insight into the perspective of an African woman living under slavery.
Why the Poem Still Matters
The continued study of On Being Brought from Africa to America shows its lasting importance. Its themes of faith, identity, and equality remain relevant in modern society. Questions about racial justice and historical memory continue to shape public discourse.
Wheatley’s work reminds readers that intellectual brilliance can emerge even in oppressive circumstances. Her poem stands as evidence of resilience and creativity.
Understanding the writer of On Being Brought from Africa to America in 1768 means recognizing both her talent and the difficult world she lived in. Phillis Wheatley wrote at a time when her voice was not expected to be heard. Yet her words survived, traveled across centuries, and continue to inspire reflection.
On Being Brought from Africa to America is more than a short eighteenth-century poem. Written by Phillis Wheatley and published in 1768, it represents a milestone in American and African American literature. Through religious imagery and careful rhetoric, Wheatley addresses issues of race, equality, and spiritual redemption.
Her writing challenges readers to think deeply about history and humanity. While brief, the poem carries emotional and intellectual weight. It stands as a testament to the power of words in shaping cultural understanding. More than two centuries later, the voice of a young African woman brought to America continues to echo through classrooms, libraries, and discussions about justice and identity.