Phillis Wheatley was an American poet and a child prodigy who wrote many well-regarded poems and was considered one of the best of her time, even being revered by George Washington. This was despite her status as a slave. Her poems which will be discussed in this essay are “On Being Brought from Africa to... Continue Reading →
“The Passing of Grandison” as an Ironic Story
“The Passing of Grandison” is a short story written by Charles Waddell Chesnutt and features in the collection The Wife of His Youth, and Other Stories of the Color Line published in 1899. Taking place in the 1850s, it has Richard “Dick” Owens, the son of the slave owner Colonel Owens, attempt to free one... Continue Reading →
The “Innocent”, “Naked” Blacks in “Benito Cereno”
In Herman Melville’s Benito Cereno, there is a scene where Captain Delano encounters a group of black women and children on the deck of the Saint Dominick. While looking at them, Delano assumes that the women are uncivilized but at the same time are well-mannered, innocent and loving towards their children. This scene, unlike what... Continue Reading →
Phillis Wheatley’s Sermon to Cambrige Students
Phillis Wheatley was an American poet who was the first African American to get published. Her poem “To the University of Cambridge in New England” is addressed to students of that university, and she tells them of Jesus’ sacrifice and the promise for redemption. This poem affirms equality through the shared sin and salvation of... Continue Reading →