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 sought nor knew.
Some view our sable race with scornful eye,
"Their colour is a diabolic die."
Remember, Christians, Negro's, black as Cain,
May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.
Taught my benighted soul to understand
That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too:
Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.
Some view our sable race with scornful eye,
"Their colour is a diabolic die."
Remember, Christians, Negro's, black as Cain,
May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.
Phillis Wheatley
2 comments:
Where did you come across this poem?
Maybe you came across it in a Survey of American Literature class? That's where I've seen this poem personally. We discussed it, and one of the most strinking things is the last two lines:
Remember, Christians, Negro's, black as Cain,
May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.
The placement of the commas allows for ambiguity. Is the speaker addressing the Christians who are "black as Cain"? or the Negros who are "black as Cain"? Who is it that is being refined? Interesting questions I recall from that discussion.
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