Phillis Wheatley was the first African American woman poet to publish a poetic book in English. With her roots in Senegal, West Africa, she found her way to the west as an enslaved person during the 18th century. As a young enslaved person, she was purchased by the Wheatley family, who were dedicated to educating her due to her intelligence and great potential. She learned how to read and write, kickstarting her great interest in poetry through the education provided. She remains notable for her classical poetic style, with her works drawing themes from morality, freedom, and religion. American revolution played a great role in her poetic career, creating opportunities for her to express her message to the people, promoting and challenging the traditional roles for people of color.
American Revolution Opportunities
Phillis Wheatley lived through the great upheaval and change in American society brought about by the American revolution phase. Despite the challenges for people of color, the revolution created great opportunities for her to establish herself as a writer and poet while challenging traditional roles. Through the revolution, Wheatley challenged the power structures that existed in society (Fournier, 2022). The revolution was, in a great way, a rebellion focused on creating a sense of possibility for the previously marginalized by fighting against the established order. Through her poetic works, she could boldly speak against slavery, calling for equality for people of color.
The revolution fostered a sense of national identity not tied to ethnicity or race, creating opportunities for Wheatley. The main driver for the revolution was liberty and democracy (Ball et al., 2019). Thus, through the revolution, a sense of unity among the Americans was created, transcending the existing race and class divides. This created an opportunity for Wheatly to tap into the sense of national pride and identity, using her poetic works to challenge equality for people of color in society.
The American revolution expanded the publishing industry and saw advancements in the technology sector. The growth of the publishing industry promoted writers, and the growth of the media industry used to spread communication to people easily. This created channels for the publication and distribution of Wheatley’s work (Carretta, 2019). The revolution also brought about growth in printing technology, creating great opportunities for all kinds of writers, including people of color. With these changes, Wheatley took advantage of publishing her work in magazines and newspapers across the region, building her national reputation as a writer and poet.
Was American Revolution “Revolutionary”
The American Revolution was a complex event with significant impacts on diverse groups. Even though the revolution created opportunities for the groups to challenge traditional roles, the revolution was only for some. Both free and enslaved African Americans were the most affected by the revolution. While the revolution created opportunities for African Americans to challenge traditional roles and their rights, the revolution inspired some groups to fight for their rights and challenge the status quo.
The main emphasis of the revolution was liberty and equality. However, this was not the case as legal slavery continued in most parts of the country, with many African Americans facing discrimination and oppression. Some of those who gained freedom also faced challenges establishing themselves in the hostile society (Carp, 2023). The revolution also created opportunities for most women to challenge traditional roles. However, women continued facing significant challenges in the aftermath of the revolution, with many of the gains made by women during the war quickly eroding in the following years.
Conclusion
The American revolution created opportunities for African Americans to challenge traditional roles and rights. Wheatley used the opportunities created in the printing industry to publish her works advocating for greater equality for people of color. Despite the opportunities created by the revolution, it was not radical for diverse groups as slavery, discrimination, oppression, and gender inequality still existed years after the revolution.
References
Ball, T., Dagger, R., & O’neill, D. I. (2019). Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal (10th ed.). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. © Taylor & Francis.
Carp, B. L. (2023). The Great New York Fire of 1776: A Lost Story of the American Revolution. YALE University Press.
Carretta, V. (2019). Phillis Wheatley chooses freedom: History, poetry, and the ideals of the American Revolution. Journal of American History, 106(2), 446–447. Web.
Fournier, J. (2022). Phillis Wheatley’s abolition rhetoric and nineteenth-century lyricization. ESQ: A Journal of Nineteenth-Century American Literature and Culture, 68(2), 223–259. Web.