PoetryEra: Slavery

On Being Brought from Africa to America

c. 1773(Approximate date)· Phillis Wheatley (poet)

Published in
Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral (London)

'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, Negros, black as Cain, May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.

Sources & citations

  1. 1.poetryfoundation.orgwebsite
  2. 2.gutenberg.orgwebsite
  3. 3.static-prod.lib.princeton.eduwebsite
On Being Brought from Africa to America · We've Been Protesting