Comparing Harriet Jacobs And Phillis Wheatley's Poetry

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Slavery in America created a legacy that has been both troubling and poignant. For instance, many of the tensions which exist between African-Americans and White Americans today are the result of this legacy. At the same time, there were individual acts of heroism by slaves (and by their sympathizers) which have been fortunately captured for posterity. Yet, sympathy isn’t what was wanted from two women; Harriet Jacobs and Phillis Wheatley. Both women use their horrific experiences not to gain sympathy, but to help abolish slavery. Phillis Wheatley is a gem of her time; the first African-American woman to have her poetry published. Though purchased as a slave, her life was far from most African-Americans during the 17th century. She was educated …show more content…

From a different point of view, her life may be viewed as an adopted child rather than a slave to the Wheatley family. However, she did not forget where she came from or those that didn’t have the same luck as she had. On Being Brought from Africa to America, one of Wheatley’s most famous poems, goes on to show how she doesn’t want sympathy and that she benefits from slavery. Although most can agree that there aren’t many advantages to slavery, Wheatley is one of the few lucky ones to have a more pleasant experience. The poem with the first few lines “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.”, by declaring that being brought from her “pagan” land of a home, Africa, to America is a blessing. Wheatley also feels “mercy” in her life is responsible for enlightening her soul. At this point, she gains knowledge about her new religion of Christianity and that she is now a believer in God. The next lines go on to introduce the prejudice that colonizers had against the Africans. “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

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