On Being Brought From Africa To America Summary

Phillis Wheatley’s “On Being Brought from Africa to America” Phillis Wheatley provides an excellent source for profound, beautiful poetry written during the Colonial Era. Wheatly, an enslaved woman in early America gave an exceptional point of view of life for enslaved people and their interaction with Christianity upon their arrival in the New World. Although Wheatley suffered many trials, she found that Christ was everything she needed. Her unique perspective and poetry helped shape early America. In Phyllis Wheatley's poem "On Being Brought from Africa to America," the conflict between the audience and theme is evident. Phillis Wheatley portrays a conflict between the audience in her poem. Wheatly went through the struggles and turmoil of

She also reminds her audience that many slaves arriving in America are not familiar with Christianity and are instead lost in paganism and need of a Savior. Just because a human being is black does not mean they do not deserve the opportunity to know of a redeeming Savior. Her message is not only for a white audience, but also for a black audience. She wants her black audience to understand that they, too, can know Christ. Phillis Wheatley displays subtle irony throughout the poem. Although Wheatly had the privilege of accepting Christ as her Savior through her captivity, she does notice the hypocrisy of some of the Christian people around her. The subtle irony, she points out, is that although many slave owners were Christian people, they did not wholly follow the biblical principles that every human, no matter their color, is a soul created by God and deserves His love and mercy. Wheatly stated in her poem, “Some view our sable race with scornful eye.” Their colour is a diabolic die. Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain, “May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train” (lines