The period of slavery in America and issues surrounding slavery, such as the inhumane treatment of colored people, division of the Union and the Civil War, can perhaps be considered the darkest period in American history. A great number of Africans were transported to this country and any children they had while in captivity were used as a means of free labor and slavery continued to be, for the most part, an accepted way of life in America for over 200 years. Slavery was infecting all parts of the nation, yet towards the end of its institution it was more prominent in the South. American literary works were beginning to take form and develop unique characteristics throughout this period in history. Three black women, one a pampered, indulged house slave taken as a child, one born into slavery and another a free-born woman, provided a foundation for other black women writers to publish their lives and feelings during a time of turmoil in the country. Phillis Wheatley, Harriet Jacobs and Frances Harper were profound authors, providing readers with a glimpse of the experiences of the African-American woman during the slavery period of America.

"The chains of the American Negro's captiv

Wheatley's writings reflected her feeling that her enslavement was a way to salvation. In "On Being Brought from Africa to America", Wheatley notes "Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land," expressing that she was a lost soul in Africa and was thankfully brought to America to see the light (574). Wheatley also fills this work with the "theme of darkness" (Russell 4). The key expressions are "sable race, diabolic die and black as Cain" (4). Wheatley is using the language of "black pride in contrast to those who say the Negro is associated with the devil" (4). None of Wheatley's writings give any indication of what she may have felt as a slave in America, thus making her quite unpopular with black critics (5). Wheatley's poems were published in England with the aid of the Countess of Huntingdon, who was amazed a black slave girl could write such wonderful verse (5). Many critics during her time did not believe Wheatley was the author of the poems. "Consequently a drawing was made to authenticate Wheatley's origins" and a testimonial was written by John Wheatley, her master, and signed by eighteen prominent Bostonians, "among them John Hancock and the royal Governor of Massachusetts". During the Revolutionary War there was little interest in literary matters among Boston residents, thus Wheatley's position as a poet became of little or no importance (6).

Finally slavery ended in 1865 with the end of the Civil War, the clash between North and South that was more about states rights than slavery. With the Emancipation Proclamation, President Abraham Lincoln made slavery an issue and guaranteed freedom for slaves (Paulson, 98). After General Lee's surrender and the end of the war, blacks were given the opportunity to live in America as free citizens.

Throughout the despair of the period of slavery in American history, Wheatley, Jacobs and Harper were able to develop talent, express their views and perhaps shed some light on the trials of African-American women. Slavery was a horrid, dark time in the history of humans and caused a great deal of pain, yet these women were able to gain some healing and closure through their writings. However, the greatest contribution these women made was in educating future readers of the personal feelings and circumstances surrounding slavery that can not be derived from history books.

Harper's first volumes of poetry, Poems on Miscellaneous Subjects, were published in 1854 (200). Harper was involved in issues of women's rights, temperance and education. In her work, "Harper displayed particular sensitivity to the concerns of women, as seen in one of her best known poems, "

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Approximate Word count = 1784
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)