Phillis Wheatley: What It Means To Be An American

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When picking an author that is the “epitome of what it means to be an American,” one author in particular stands out to me every time, and it is an author who is probably not considered by many to be an “American” author. Her name is Phillis Wheatley. Through her writings, Wheatley expresses her patriotism and overall respect for life in America, gaining her recognition by critics and fans alike, and a major spot in the topic of American Literature. Within my essay, I aim to prove how Wheatley deserves the title of being labeled an American, and how she embodies the topic of what it means to be an American. Readers unfamiliar with Phillis Wheatley may wonder of her background and who she was in particular to be able to gain rights to be mentioned in early American literature. Wheatley was born in 1753 and was captured by Africans, and sold to an American family known as the Wheatley’s. She quickly became a member of the Wheatley family, living in the home, and being tutored on reading and writing. …show more content…

Appreciation of being in America is a notable trait of what it means to be an American, as a true American enjoys being here. She also notes her discovery of religion by being brought here, and while the “melting pot” is America’s trademark, her recognition of Christianity (75% of Americans recognize themselves as Christians) sparks yet another characteristic of her being an example of an American. Christian or not, her being comfortable with her religion, as she expresses in other poems, is a prime example of Americanism as we encourage everyone to freely express

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