In early African-American literature, there is a consistent theme of gaining freedom through assimilation which as an idea slowly withers and becomes militant as it continues to be ineffective in the black struggle for freedom and equality. Phillis Wheatley is the first canonical African American poet and is able to write in this time period because her poetry is the opposite of criticism. Phillis Wheatley's “On Being Brought from Africa to America” demonstrates not only the conformity imposed on early slaves, but also the immediacy of slaves' indoctrination into the religious philosophies and poetic rhetoric of white Europeans. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Wheatley wholeheartedly embraces the idea of Christianity in its most basic understanding as she uses the rhetoric of the Bible to argue why it should be equal, and this is because she and other African descendants “could also be refined” (Wheatley ). Modernly it is an atheistic habit to make philosophical and scientific arguments against the basis of a Judeo-Christian God, this stems from the religious indoctrination perpetrated on the masses in the early stages of America. This is exemplified by Jupiter Hammon, Olaudah Equiano, Phillis Wheatley, and even the Rev. Martin Luther King Junior. To argue against the social restrictions and oppressions faced by a specific population, it is necessary to reveal the hypocrisy within Christianity from which the oppressor draws their morality. By appealing to this vile desire for self-righteousness, the overlord must cease to be the oppressor or admit that he is evil. While at the same time using the specifics of Christianity to criticize immoral behavior, the indoctrination of slaves still constituted a dangerous and definitive stain on the personality of those who were forced. Jupiter Hammon wrote to Phillis Wheatley in his poem “An Address to Phillis Wheatley,” “God's tender mercy has brought you hither; thrown beyond the rushing current; In the Christian faith you have a part worth all the gold of Spain. It is telling that the value of Christianity for these people is a mechanism for adding value to a life that is not sufficiently vibrant or full of exceptional things. This is dangerous because they believe in what is essentially a fairy tale to the point where they depend on the afterlife to give meaning to their “humble” lives and become complacent about the horrors they and their ancestors will have to endure. of Africans and African-Americans in Christianity was a tool of control and is similar to Moloch's plan to use the master's weapons against them for Wheatley to intentionally uphold her freedom based solely on the principles introduced to her by slaveholders and ministers. As a student of classical literature, Wheatley was well acquainted with both Milton and Pope, and so might be expected to view Christianity critically regarding its application of oppression. “On Being Brought from Africa to America,” demonstratively declares itself to be a shining example of Christianity, not as a boast, but as a criticism of those who would oppress it and thus sully their own holiness. This poem, as well as a critique, works well as a satire to expose the fear within the community of slavers and subjugators in which he writes his work. For example, Wheatley writes "Remember, Christians, niggers, blacks like Cain, / can be refined and join the angelic train", this indicates that he is reminding Christians that they had given their sacred tradition to blacks as a means of keeping them satisfied in the face to harsh torment, and then yes.
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