Primary sourceBook1768 (published 1773)
On Being Brought from Africa to America
Phillis Wheatley · 1768 (published 1773)
An eight-line poem by Phillis Wheatley reflecting on her enslavement through Christian redemption, one of her most widely studied works.
One of Wheatley's own poems, and her most frequently anthologized, dealing directly with her enslavement and faith.
About this source
What it is
This short poem by Phillis Wheatley was written around 1768 and published in her 1773 collection. It describes her being brought from Africa, framing the experience through Christian ideas of mercy and salvation.
Why it matters
The poem is often discussed because it does not describe the brutality of the slave trade or slavery directly, which has made it one of the most debated works in African American literature. Scholars disagree about whether it reflects acceptance of her situation or a subtle challenge to readers who viewed Africans as inferior.
Look closer
- Why might Wheatley have chosen religious language instead of describing her experience of being enslaved directly?
- How does the poem address readers who looked down on Black people?
- What questions does this poem leave unanswered about her life?
This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Phyllis Wheatley on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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