History of Philosophy: India, Africana, China HAP 33 - Young, Gifted, and Black - Phillis Wheatley
Jul 21, 2019
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Wheatley's Early Life and Rise
- Phillis Wheatley was brought to Boston in 1761 and purchased by the Wheatley family as a slave child of about seven.
- She was treated like family, given a rare education, and became a celebrated poet by age 13.
Religious Imagination in Wheatley's Poetry
- Wheatley's poetry is deeply infused with Christian piety and frequently addresses religious themes.
- She views poetry and imagination as means of accessing a celestial, liberating realm beyond earthly constraints.
Using Humility to Command Authority
- Wheatley uses humility about her race and status to morally instruct her readers in an authoritative voice.
- She challenges privileged audiences by subtly reversing racial expectations and inviting reflection on Christianity and freedom.