On Being Brought from Africa to America Poem Lines

‘Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,

Taught my benighted soul to understand

That there’s a God, that there’s a Saviour too:

Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.

Some view our sable race with scornful eye,

“Their colour is a diabolic die.”

Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain,

May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train.

On Being Brought from Africa to America Summary

In her poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America,” Phillis Wheatley discusses her own experience of being transported to the United States as an African woman in slavery and her conversion to Christianity. Because she believes that being removed from Africa was a part of a divine plan that lead her to find faith and redemption, Wheatley views her trip as an act of charity.

Wheatley describes how kindness transported her from her “Pagan land” (Africa) to America in the poem’s opening section. She talks about how her soul was “benighted,” which means dark or tormented, but that Christianity helped her realize that God existed and that she might be saved. She says that prior to this change, she had never looked for atonement. Wheatley believes that she was delivered from a life of ignorance and spiritual darkness by learning about God and redemption.

Wheatley discusses the prejudice that African Americans encounter in society in the second section. She notes that some individuals despise Black people due to the color of their skin, interpreting it as an indication of wickedness. But by reminding her readers that Black people may be rescued by God, just like everyone else, she confronts this notion. She contends that African people can be “refin’d” (refined or cleansed) and admitted into the celestial kingdom with angels regardless of the color of their skin. Wheatley’s message is one of spiritual equality, implying that everyone may be redeemed regardless of background and that trust in God transcends race.

Wheatley utilizes her personal experience to speak out against the racial discrimination of her era in this straightforward yet impactful poetry. In addition to being a traumatic event, she views her forced migration to America as a means of finding redemption and religion. The poem challenges readers to see past racial differences and acknowledge that everyone has the capacity for spiritual growth, regardless of background or skin tone. In this way, Wheatley highlights the ability of Christianity to effect change and provide redemption while also using her tale to criticize the racism of her time.

On Being Brought from Africa to America Analysis

The poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America” by Phillis Wheatley offers a nuanced account of her journey from enslavement to redemption. Wheatley relates her own story as an African lady who was transported to America as a slave and converted to Christianity in the poem. She illustrates how her conversion to Christianity changed her perspective on the world and herself by using her trip as a metaphor for spiritual transformation.

Wheatley refers to her forced migration from Africa when she opens the first verse with the phrase, “‘Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land.” Here, the term “mercy” is significant because it implies that Wheatley views her servitude as a disguised blessing rather than a punishment. She sees her departure from Africa as a heavenly gesture of kindness that opened her eyes to Christianity. Her spirit, which she characterizes as “benighted” (meaning dark or uneducated), was enlightened by Christian teachings, as the phrase “Taught my benighted soul to understand” further reveals. This implies Wheatley views her commitment to Christianity as a way to achieve spiritual atonement.

“That there is a God and a Savior too: / Once I redemption neither sought nor knew,” Wheatley goes on. This suggests that she did not comprehend the idea of salvation before to her conversion, but that she now does. She believes that God’s grace has saved her and given her life a new purpose.

Wheatley turns her attention to the bigotry and discrimination that Black people must deal with in the second verse. “Some look down on our sable race, saying that their color is a diabolic die,” she says. In this passage, she discusses the prevalent racism of her era, which denigrated Black people due to their skin tone. The idea that Black people were characterized by evil because of their dark complexion is what is meant by the expression “diabolic die.” This sentence demonstrates the discrimination Wheatley experienced from society as an African woman.

Wheatley turns her attention to the bigotry and discrimination that Black people must deal with in the second verse. “Some look down on our sable race, saying that their color is a diabolic die,” she says. In this passage, she discusses the prevalent racism of her era, which denigrated Black people due to their skin tone. The idea that Black people were characterized by evil because of their dark complexion is what is meant by the expression “diabolic die.” This sentence demonstrates the discrimination Wheatley experienced from society as an African woman.

In this poem, Wheatley advocates for racial equality in God’s eyes by sharing her own conversion journey. She makes the case that everyone has the capacity to discover redemption, regardless of skin color, and portrays Christianity as a force that cuts beyond racial boundaries. The poem offers a message of hope and spiritual growth for everyone, regardless of race, while simultaneously criticizing the racial discrimination of Wheatley’s era and reflecting her personal experience.

On Being Brought from Africa to America Line by Line Explanation

Line 1: “’Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,”
Wheatley starts off by blaming “mercy” for her voyage from Africa to America. The fact that she uses the term “mercy” implies that she views her forced move as a benefit rather than a penalty. Her native Africa, which many Europeans saw as “heathen” or non-Christian, is referred to as “pagan land.” By converting her “pagan” existence to one of spiritual illumination, Wheatley suggests that her conversion to Christianity is an act of divine grace.

Line 2: “Taught my benighted soul to understand”
Wheatley refers to her spirit as “benighted” in this passage, which denotes darkness or ignorance. The usage of this phrase suggests that she did not have a solid grasp of God and salvation prior to being transported to America and exposed to Christianity. Wheatley feels that her spirit was enlightened by Christian teachings, hence the term “taught my soul to understand” emphasizes the transformational power of religion.

Line 3: “That there’s a God, that there’s a Saviour too:”
By reaffirming her faith in God and Jesus Christ as her Savior, Wheatley declares her religious confidence. Her newly discovered knowledge of Christianity, which has provided her with spiritual direction and meaning, is highlighted in this sentence.

Line 4: “Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.”
Wheatley considers in this passage how she had not sought nor comprehended redemption (spiritual salvation) before to her conversion to Christianity. The Christian idea of being redeemed from sin is referred to here as “redemption,” and Wheatley admits that she didn’t see the necessity of Christianity until she converted.

Line 5: “Some view our sable race with scornful eye,”
The poem’s emphasis is shifted to racial discrimination by Wheatley. She uses the term “sable” to describe her Black skin and calls her African ancestry the “sable race.” The expression “scornful eye” captures the disgust or loathing that many white people in the 18th century felt toward Black people. Wheatley talks about the bigotry she encountered and urges her audience to reevaluate these prejudiced opinions.

Line 6: “‘Their colour is a diabolic die.’”
Here, Wheatley cites the discriminatory belief that Black skin was synonymous with evil, which was prevalent at the time. The idea that Black people’s dark complexion was connected to sin or the devil is what is meant by the expression “diabolic die.” The word “diabolic” is used to highlight the unfair and unfavorable connotations that were attached to race.

Line 7: “Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain,”
Speaking directly to her Christian audience, Wheatley exhorts them to keep in mind that Black people—”black as Cain”—can also find redemption. Because it represents how Black people were frequently perceived as wicked or cursed, the allusion to Cain, the biblical character who committed the first murder, is significant. Wheatley challenges the prejudiced idea that Black people are innately bad or inferior by using this allusion.

Line 8: “May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train.”
In this last sentence, Wheatley claims that Christianity may “refine” or purify Black people, even if they have black complexion like Cain. The term “refined” implies that they are capable of being purified of sin and spiritually changed. All persons, regardless of race, can join the angels in paradise after being saved, according to the expression “join th’ angelic train.” This message is inclusive and hopeful, implying that spiritual redemption is not limited by race.

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Language Devices in On Being Brought from Africa to America

Personification: In the first line, Wheatley personifies “mercy,” suggesting that it actively brought her to America. This makes “mercy” seem like a guiding force.

Alliteration: The repetition of the “s” sound in “sable race” in line 5 adds a musical quality to the line and helps to emphasize the racial distinction.

Allusion: The reference to “Cain” in line 7 is an allusion to the Bible, specifically to the story in the Book of Genesis. Cain, the son of Adam and Eve, is marked as a sinner after killing his brother Abel. Wheatley uses this allusion to challenge the view that Black people are inherently sinful.

Syncope: In line 8, the word “th’” is a contracted form of “the,” a common practice in poetry to maintain rhythm or meter.

Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows a consistent AABBCCDD rhyme scheme, which helps to create a smooth, rhythmic flow that makes the message easy to follow.

Iambic Pentameter: The poem is mostly written in iambic pentameter, a common meter in English poetry, where each line has ten syllables, alternating between unstressed and stressed beats. This gives the poem a formal, serious tone, which is fitting for the spiritual message Wheatley conveys.

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