Poem #1: On being Brought from Africa to America

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 Saivor too:
Once I redemption nethier sought nor knew.
Some view our sable race with scornful eye,
"Thier color is a diabolic dye."
Remeber, Christans, Negroes, black as Cain,
May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.


Phillis Wheatly Peters (1753?-1784)

Brought from Africa to Boston in 1761, the young slave became well-educated and in 1773 published Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral. Fun Fact: Her master's daughter,which was her best friend, taught Phillis how to read. Wanna know another? The family embraced her new talents and eventually would take her to do shows to showcase her poetry talent.

Wheatly Peters, Phillis. "Phillis Wheatly Peters (1753?-1784)." Ed. Joan R. Sherman. African-American Poetry : An Anthology, 1773-1927. Mineola: Dover, 1997. 1. Print.