Liberty University
ENGL201: American Literatrure 1
Dr. Christopher Robinson
September 14th, 2022
WHY WHEATLEY’S ACHIEVEMENTS ARE CONSIDERED A MIRACLE
Why Wheatley’s Achievements Are Considered a Miracle
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WHY WHEATLEY’S ACHIEVEMENTS ARE CONSIDERED A MIRACLE2
Why Wheatley’s Achievements Are Considered a Miracle
Philis Wheatley was an African American poet who came to the country as an enslaved
person. She adopted the name Wheatley from her master. Since the government did not allow
enslaved individuals to learn how to read and write or attend school, Philis was a self-taught
English language student who learned through the family that had bought her. A curiosity in
writing birthed the poetic works of this poet. June Jordan describes Philis as a miracle since she
conquered all odds in her poetry career, and at a time when women were voiceless in society,
Philis provided a voice to the enslaved population and wrote anti-slave poems that affected the
thinking and assumptions at the time and even contributed to slave abolition.
The milestones that Philis conquered as an enslaved person were unnatural. During the
slavery period, the masters treated the enslaved people as objects. The enslaved women had the
most challenging time since their masters and the liberal community committed numerous
horrible crimes against them, including rape. Jordan implies that the enslaved population was
“nothing” in the eyes of their masters and the people associated with masters (Jordan, 1986).
Another obstacle that would seem impossible to achieve is related to language proficiency. Also,
the enslaved populations faced high levels of discrimination, and publishing works of African
American authors was near impossible. Wheatley (1988) confirms that the publishers in Boston
refused to print the poet’s poetic works because of her race and gender. Philis was among three
poets and writers who managed to publish their works while still in servitude (O’Neale, 1986).
The female gender received a ‘lesser than’ treatment and at least was voiceless in society. Due to
the mistreatment and numerous challenges enslaved individuals had to endure, Jordan believed it
was a miracle that Wheatley still found the energy and drive to be lyrical in a foreign land where
WHY WHEATLEY’S ACHIEVEMENTS ARE CONSIDERED A MIRACLE3
people like her were trampled on and despised. When all odds were stuck against her, Wheatley
recreated and redefined herself.
Wheatley demonstrated high levels of bravery when she spoke against the owners of
enslaved individuals and the society that tolerated or ignored how the masters treated the
enslaved families and individuals. O’Neale (1986) states that while some critics seem to ignore
or overlook this fact, Wheatley’s actions were monumental. Fundamentally, Wheatley used her
poetry to make society see the wrongness of treating other people with disdain and denying them
their right to lead a free life. For instance, in her poem “on being brought from Africa to
America,” Wheatley highlights key themes against slavery, including freedom and equality. In
the poem, Philis asserts that “…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.” Wheatley used religion to call out discriminatory societal behaviors during the
slavery period. As young as she was when writing this poem, Wheatley saw and understood what
was happening around her as an enslaved person and hoped that by making society aware or
bothered, perhaps a shift that would lead to the end of slavery would occur.
Philis’s poetic works attracted positive attention throughout the colonies. Siegelová
(2020) notes that the family that bought Wheatley valued her and often introduced her to notable
people and other families in Boston who became interested in her work. This author asserts that
Wheatley was a cheerful conversationalist who the learned community constantly invited to their
drawing chambers to talk about significant literature topics. After publishing her work, Wheatley
became a worthy person in American society since numerous mass media channels began
noticing her. Wheatley’s arrivals and departures became newsworthy as a result. Her appreciation
during the colonial era was exceptional since she garnered consistent attention in the pages
WHY WHEATLEY’S ACHIEVEMENTS ARE CONSIDERED A MIRACLE4
despite the colonial newspaper being just about four pages long. Evidence suggests that four
publishing her book, 9 British journals appraised Wheatley’s work, and each of the appraisals
was positive. The ability to publish her work might have also changed people’s perceptions about
slavery since the enslaved people had been previously regarded as illiterates. Publishing her
work increased Wheatley’s publicity and attracted more people to her work since historical
records suggest that the book sold well in both England and America (Siegelová, 2020).
Siegelová (2020) adds that Black folks associated with the struggle of white America and
aspired for their liberation as the colonies fought for liberty from England. Literacy was
considered an essential tool in the battle for black independence. Accordingly, various
movements had helped unlock numerous avenues for black people by realizing and utilizing the
potential of reading. They consequently began to depict themselves as humans with intellectual
capabilities. Wheatley’s poetry added to this example of clever humans by influencing
conversations about the humanity of enslaved people and the Enlightenment discussion over
human nature and human rights.
Conclusion
Philis Wheatley’s work is a miracle since she achieved milestones that women could not
quickly achieve at a young age in the slavery period. Philis provided a voice to the enslaved
population and wrote anti-slave poems that affected the thinking and assumptions at the time and
even contributed to slave abolition. Wheatley demonstrated high levels of bravery when she
spoke against the owners of enslaved individuals and the society that tolerated or ignored how
the masters treated the enslaved families and individuals. Additionally, her personality and work
attracted favorable attention from the colonists, changing society’s mindset about the human
nature of enslaved persons.
WHY WHEATLEY’S ACHIEVEMENTS ARE CONSIDERED A MIRACLE5
References
Jordan, J. (1986). The difficult miracle of Black poetry in America or something like a sonnet for
Phillis Wheatley. The Massachusetts Review, 27(2), 252-262.
O’Neale, S. (1986). A Slave’s Subtle War: Phillis Wheatley’s Use of Biblical Myth and Symbol.
Early American Literature, 21(2), 144-165.
Siegelová, M. E. (2020). The Legacy of Phillis Wheatley. Masaryk University.
Wheatley, P. (1988). The collected works of Phillis Wheatley. Schomburg Library of Nineteenth-
Century Black Women Writers.
