Equality

Equality is a central theme of “On Being Brought from Africa to America.” In both content and form, the poem shows the inherent equality of Black and white people. At the level of form, that equality is emphasized through Wheatley’s mastery of iambic pentameter. By writing in rhyming couplets with five iambs per line (one short syllable followed by one long syllable), Wheatley shows her ability to master a form closely associated with canonical white poets. In doing so, she demonstrates that Black writers are capable of artistic feats that equal (if not surpass) that of preeminent white writers, implicitly arguing that her artistic achievements are as great as theirs.

Furthermore, the content of this poem centers on themes of equality as well. In the first half of the poem, the speaker describes a “God” and “Saviour” for all people (3). By positioning Christian “redemption” as...