Featured Poet
Phillis Wheatley was a negro servant to John
Wheatley of Boston.
Phillis was brought from Africa to America, in the
year 1761, between seven and eight years of age.
Without any assistance from school education, and
by only what she was taught in the family, she, in
sixteen months time from her arrival, attained the
english language, to which she was an utter stranger
before, to such a degree, as to read any, the most
difficult parts of the Sacred Writings, to the great
astonishment of all who heard her.
John Wheatley
Boston, November 14, 1772
On being brought from Africa to America
'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 fought now knew,
Some view our sable race with scornful eye,
"Their colour is a diabolic die."
Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,
May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.
Phillis Wheatley
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