Images and poem, “On Being Brought From Africa to America” from Phillis Wheatley’s book, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral.
Frontispiece and title page of Phillis Wheatley’s book.
From Our Cabinet: Phillis Wheatley,” engraving after portrait by Scipio Moorhead, Massachusetts Historical Society, September 2001, masshist.org/objects/cabinet/september2001/september2001.html
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 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.