Phillis wheatley

In the United States people celebrate black history month, and a lot of important people including Phillis Wheatley. We still remember all about her past and her writing, and her words.
Family
No one knows about Phillils’s Wheatley’s real parents since she was taken away at a young age. We do know about her master. Her master’s name was John Wheatley. He was a Boston Merchant. John wanted a personal servant for his wife: Susannah so he gave Phillis to her. Even Though Phillis was a slave she did not do as much work because she had delicate health. The Wheatley’s were also very religious people. They were a member of the south church including Phillis. (It was very rare that she went) He was also impressed by her intelligence.

Background
There is no actual birth date known for Phillis since she was captured at the age of seven or eight. The year she was born was around 1753-1784. The country she was born is now known as Senegal, which is in West Africa. She was very intelligent she learned three languages: Greek, Latin and English. She was baptized in the year 1771. She wrote a poem about the Boston Massacre. She ended up having a very bad marriage, and two of three kids died. She died young at the age of 31.


Was she serious?

phillis Wheatley wrote this poem about being brought from Africa:
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 dye."
Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,
May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.´

During colonial times people read that poem and thought Phillis Wheatley was Brilliant. (Especially for a black slave. Most slaves didn’t get any education) People still read the exact poem today, but instead of thinking she was brilliant they now think that she was just being sarcastic. They think She wasn’t seriously thanking the Colonists for taking her away from her homeland. For example, look at the words She uses in the poem: There’s a savior, sable race, pagan land, race with scornful eye, Black as Cain. (She is referring to Cain from the bible and the mark god put on Cain for killing his brother. Some people say the mark is black people) It is hard to know whether she meant it seriously or in a sarcastic way. Maybe the point is to make us ponder. That’ s what writer s do make us think and ponder.



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