Phillis Wheatley: The African-American Literary Leader

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Phillis Wheatley marks the beginning of the African-American literary tradition. Although she is the first African-American to become a published author, it is Wheatley’s work that proves her originality as it reflects a specific time in American history, her status as a slave, and a young woman of Christian faith (Harris). Each of these inherently contribute to her fresh African-American perspective. Wheatley is ingenious in the way she subtly ties in the roots of slavery and racism in a way that whites did not feel guarded. Not only does her work allow those with a conscious to at least somewhat consider the African-American point of view, but it invites criticism by those who care not to see African-Americans as intelligent equal beings that deserve respect. Some of the African-American community also criticizes that Wheatley did not speak enough about the injustices of slavery and prejudices of her time (Scheick). These critics are simply unable to see the Wheatley’s intent as her writing breeds originality and attention to a young and well-educated African-American woman whose words could stifle her freedoms if put any other way. In evaluating Wheatley’s On Being Brought from Africa to America, An Hymn to the Evening, and To the University of Cambridge, in New-England it is clear to see that she could only be imitative in style perhaps, but nuances of her heritage is what places her “writing at the heart of any definition of an African-American canon” (Harris).
On Being Brought from Africa to America, Wheatley’s short poem reads powerfully. How could one possibly breeze past such a sharply positioned argument which directly places her race front and center?

Some view our sable race with scornful eye,
“Their colour is...

... middle of paper ...

...ve any rights or liberties and whose very words could imprison his life beyond the restrictions which were already made overtly clear. Wheatley displays evidence of the narrow rope which she walked when it came to putting words to paper. However, Wheatley gracefully opened the doors for other African-Americans to make record of their history and however discreet incorporates the origin of her roots.

Works Cited

Flauzbaum, Hilene. "Unprecedented liberties:re-reading Phillis Wheatley"." MELUS 18.3 (1993): 71+. Academic OneFile. Web. 24 Mar. 2014.
Harris, Will. "Phillis Wheatley, diaspora subjectivity, and the African American canon." MELUS 33.3 (2008): 27+ Academic OneFile. Web. 24 Mar. 2014.
Scheik, William J. "Subjection and prophecy in Phillis Wheatley's verse paraphrases of scripture." College Literature 22.3 (1995); 122+. Academic OneFile. Web. 24 Mar. 2014.

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