Phillis Wheatley
Phillis Wheatley, one of America's most profound writers, has contributed greatly to American literature, not only as a writer, but as an African American woman, who has influenced many African Americans by enriching their knowledge of and exposure to their Negro heritage and Negro literature. As one of America's most renown writers, Wheatley, said to be the mother of African American Literature, is best known for her sympathetic portrayals of African American thought. Wheatley's literary contributions are vast in nature and distinguish her apart from most writers of her era. Her writings have helped in the molding of the African American tradition and are favored by people of all ethnic backgrounds.Phillis Wheatley was born on the West coast of Africa. Her exact birthplace is unknown; however it is assumed that she was born near Senegambia, a territory that today is divided between the nation of Senegal and Gambia. Wheatley's birthplace is assumed to be near Senegambia because it was in this territory that Wheatley and others were introduced into the vile conditions of slavery. Kidnapped by slave agents at the age of seven, young Phillis had to endure the struggle to America alone. "Frail young Phillis proba
"Phillis Wheatley had only to look out her front door to see the impeding conflict of her society coming closer by the day" (Richmond, 13). Phillis Wheatley's political poetry has been widely ignored, but she lived in Boston and was witness to the events leading to the Revolution. The conflicts of society inspired Phillis Wheatley to compose poems on the tragic events she witnessed. Such historic instances, as Crispus Attucks involvement in the Boston Massacre, influenced Wheatley's poetry. In Wheatley's poem entitled, "On the Affray in King Street on the Evening of the 5th of March 1770," she eludes to the events leading up to the death of Attucks, the first African American to die in the Boston Massacre. Phillis Wheatley is an important figure in both American and African American History. She succeeded during a time when the color of one's skin determined whether or not a person lived or died, worked or over-saw, was published or remained unheard. When color mattered so much, and was the determining and dominating factor as to how one was perceived, Phillis Wheatley did not let hers hold her back. In fact, she used it to her advantage as she sent her works to the East, where one's talent outweighed their complexion. She proved to White America that African Americans, if given the opportunity, are capable of not only learning the art of reading and writing, but of mastering it and becoming famous and successful while doing it.
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Approximate Word count = 1653
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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