Poem Analysis: On Being Brought From Africa To America
Key concepts: African Christians, heaven ignores the color of the Christians
A note on why I like these passages: I consider On Being Brought from Africa to America is a good example of the American Jeremiad. This idea comes up to me due to the last two lines of the poem. Phillis Wheatley says “Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain, May be refined, and join the angelic train.” Wheatley believes her skin color is the punishment of her sin as same as the mark on the Cain. However, her God would not forsake her, and she finally would return to him. This structure is as same as the structure in the Martin Luther King’s speech I have a dream that we have mentioned in class. In addition, I am impressed by Wheatley’s bold and intelligent personality.
A note on why I like these passages: I consider On Being Brought from Africa to America is a good example of the American Jeremiad. This idea comes up to me due to the last two lines of the poem. Phillis Wheatley says “Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain, May be refined, and join the angelic train.” Wheatley believes her skin color is the punishment of her sin as same as the mark on the Cain. However, her God would not forsake her, and she finally would return to him. This structure is as same as the structure in the Martin Luther King’s speech I have a dream that we have mentioned in class. In addition, I am impressed by Wheatley’s bold and intelligent personality.