Phillis Wheatley, born in Senegal around 1753, was the first African-American woman to publish a book of poetry. Despite being enslaved in Boston, Massachusetts, Wheatley’s talent and intellect shone through her powerful words. Her poems often addressed the themes of freedom, humanity, and the harsh realities of slavery. In this article, we explore some of the most impactful quotes from Phillis Wheatley on the subject of slavery.
Wheatley’s poetry provided a voice for the oppressed and became a catalyst for the abolitionist movement. Her works were a testament to her resilience and determination to fight against the injustices of slavery. Through her words, she shed light on the dehumanizing effects of enslavement and the longing for freedom.
Although Wheatley’s life was tragically cut short at the age of 31, her legacy lives on. Her poetry continues to inspire and educate generations about the horrors of slavery and the strength of the human spirit. Now, let’s delve into some of her most profound quotes on the subject of slavery.
Read these Phillis Wheatley quotes on slavery
“In every human Breast, God has implanted a Principle, which we call Love of Freedom; it is impatient of Oppression, and pants for Deliverance.”
“In Freedom’s Cause, her noblest toils endure, / She joys to rid the Oppress’d, and wrong redress / And oft her Voice is heard in Slavery’s Court.”
“But how, presumptuous shall we hope to find / Divine acceptance with th’ Almighty mind— / While yet (O deed ungenerous!) they disgrace / And hold in bondage Afric’s blameless race.”
“Can Afric’s daughters boast a brighter name? / And is there one, who shares a brighter fame?”
“For me kind Nature wakes her genial power, / Suckles each herb, and spreads out every flower; / Annual for me, the grape, the rose, renew / The juice nectareous, and the balmy dew.”
“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.”
“Lo!—an Abyssinian form appears, / Swell’d with the Zembla, blanch’d in distant snows, / Himself a slave;—his royal lineage lost, / And all the cost of freedom dearly bought.”
“But what art thou, whose looks suggest / The pleasing idea of a man oppress’d?”
“Afric, of all th’ interposing woods, / And streams, and savages, and Gods.”
“The nations curse thee, and with eager eyes / Thy future actions pass in close review.”
“And, Candor, in her own fair page, bestows / A glorious record of immortal fame.”
“But thou, in Freedom’s cause, / Dost lift thy drooping head, and mend thy pace.”
“No more in mournful strain / Of wrongs, and grievance unredress’d, complain.”
“To show thy faults, and make thy virtues known.”
“While Afric’s sons, aghast, the tempest view’d, / They bless’d the gales, that to their aid they flew.”
“No longer shall thy children, here oppress’d, / Rise up to judge thee, and to curse the day.”
“Till parent earth shall bid her infants rise, / And all her self-restored children meet.”
“O may thy powerful arm, / With matchless speed, the happy period bring.”
“Ev’n now, perhaps, in some embattled plain, / The sons of Afric, struggling, press the plain.”
“The earth-born sons, to slavery born again.”
“The Muse, disgusted at an age and clime / Barren of every glorious theme.”
These quotes from Phillis Wheatley provide a glimpse into the profound impact of slavery on her poems. Through her eloquence, she challenged the dehumanization of her own people and advocated for their freedom. Wheatley’s words continue to serve as a reminder of the strength and resilience of those who fought against the injustices of slavery.
It is important to remember and honor the voices of those who have fought for freedom, as they pave the way for a more just and equal society. Phillis Wheatley’s contribution to the abolitionist movement remains significant, and her words continue to inspire and educate generations to come.
