The Change of America

Mrs. Phillis Wheatley is the first published African-American poet, as well as the first women to help create the African-American literature. Mrs. Wheatley had came a long way. From slavery to freedom she wrote life changing poetry. Phillis Wheatley put her journey into a short poem titled, "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 Savior too:
Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.
Some view our sable race with scornful eyes,
"Their colour is a diabolic die."
Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain,
May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train."

The words Phillis Wheatley used are aged formal English. She uses words like "colour" and "refin'd" give away these clues. The message being said towards the end of this poem refers to white Christians, or those with the "diabolic" skin, and African-Americans "black as Cain," will one day all join together as one.

Resources: Wheatley, Phillis. "On Being Brought from Africa to America." Poetry Foundation. Web. 24 May 2012.