Poet Phillis Wheatley

Writer Phillis Wheatley was the first African American to be published in the white dominant world where she opened many opportunities for African Americans. Many people were surprised to hear that an african american, who people thought of as unintelligent barbarians, wrote poems that were so popular and well written that people had no other choice but to acknowledge the fact that they too can create great works of art. Although many of the poems that were written are expressed through her loyalty and love for christianity there are some poems such as To S.M A Young African American Painter, on Seeing His Works where it shows that although she censored some of her work to pacify her white audience she still follows and cheer the arts of other …show more content…
One line that I found to be very important is when she states “ Still may the painter’s and the poet’s fire !”where she shows that she like the painter are eager and enthusiastic in showing the world what they have to offer by comparing their willingness and dedication to a fire burning inside of them. Furthermore Wheatley also states "Conduct thy footsteps to immortal fame!” where she is speaking to S.M or Scipio Moorhead , an enslaved African American Painter, and how his work of art that is described as celestial is infact immortal and that it will be seen for a long time bringing fame to his name which was something new and unheard of for African American …show more content…
Although this may seem insignificant it is important because of all the hate that many whites expressed just because they were black so by this she is telling him that she hopes he can keep seeing beauty with in the darkness that surrounds them every day. Wheatley also expresses her experience in america as a dark and states that eventually “.. darkness ends in everlasting day”. The darkness stated in the sentence shows the hard times of racial oppression and discrimination that african americans who were enslaved and free had to go through. Wheatley reveals the importance of the hope and faith for a better day in which they, the black artist, will eventually be free to express their words was important because till this day so many years after people still turn away from their race and culture and do rung towards