The 18th century presented many challenges to African Americans, even those who were free from the horrors of slavery. Many African Americans struggled to find a public voice that the general (white) population was willing to listen to. Phillis Wheatley had a rare opportunity for an African American. Despite being kidnapped from Africa to be sold at a young age, she was well educated and became a popular poet, even among the white population. Even so, Wheatley could not be too radical or he would lose his audience; however, after a careful reading of many of his works, and in particular To the Right Honorable William, Earl of Dartmouth Wheatley, includes many subtle references to racial inequality and alludes to many progressive ideas, such as abolitionism and racial equality . to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Wheatley's straightforward purpose in writing To the Honorable William, Earl of Dartmouth is to praise the Earl. The poem seems to be exclusively about the count and America's newfound freedom and greatness; however, the subtlety of Wheatley's To the Right Honorable William, Earl of Dartmouth conveys a progressive racial vision. In the poem, Wheatley uses carefully chosen language that highlights inequality in newly liberated America. Wheatley's choice of word implies that only white Americans benefited from the American Revolution; African Americans, meanwhile, remained as oppressed as they had been before the Revolution. In To the Right Honorable William, Earl of Dartmouth, Wheatley writes: "Fair Freedom rose" (2). Wheatley uses the multiple meanings of “right” (fair and light-skinned) and, in doing so, emphasizes that America's new freedom is exclusively for light-skinned white Americans. African Americans were mostly excluded from America's freedom, and Wheatley points this out without saying it too radically. Furthermore, Wheatley writes, “in thy hand with pleasure we see / The silken reins” (7-8). Wheatley chooses to use the word “silk,” a naturally white substance, to allude to white Americans. “Reins” refers to the actual power held by the government, but also to the homophone “reigns,” which refers to the superiority and power of a monarch. For Wheatley, white Americans had a monopoly on government and used their power selfishly like a corrupt monarch. African Americans gained very little from the American Revolution and Wheatley alludes to this in his writings. Wheatley continues to discuss the idea of ​​light and darkness in further lines. He writes, “Thus from the splendors of the morning light/ The sad owl seeks the caves of the night” (13-14). Once again, the idea of ​​light, referring to light-skinned people, is associated with good things such as “shine,” while darkness, referring to African Americans, is associated with bad things, such as sadness. Whites are blessed with goodness and opportunity while African Americans suffer and face oppression. Wheatley's use of metaphors emphasizes the differences in social views and ideals regarding different races. Wheatley also compares English tyranny to that of slave owners. She writes, “No more shall you fear the iron chain / Which unbridled tyranny, with lawless hand, / Hath created, and with it intended to enslave the earth” (17-19). The iron chain provides powerful imagery that directly links the British Empire to slave owners. This “tyranny” is particularly bad; Wheatley's decision to capitalize “Tyranny” highlights the importance he places on the word. Tyranny is notsomething small. It's incredibly powerful and evil, but it's also something that African Americans have to deal with despite the effects of the American Revolution. By writing to the Earl of Dartmouth, Wheatley means that whites will no longer face oppression. The “lawless hand” still exists because African Americans are still slaves to the iron chain of tyranny. By evoking images of slavery, such as the iron chain, Wheatley shows that tyranny, though no longer faced by white Americans, still continues in the newly liberated land. Later in the poem, Wheatley also talks about the horrors of the slave trade. Wheatley's description of the slave trade is the only connotatively negative part of the otherwise positive poem. Her poetry provides her with a platform to criticize the slave trade, but she must be careful about offending her predominantly white audience. He uses his words to criticize the practice of slavery under the guise of explaining why he loves freedom and America. His choice of words is connotatively negative and highlights the evils of the slave trade while praising the count. Wheatley's description of the slave trade highlights the evils of the practice. Wheatley uses powerful imagery to paint a vivid picture of the day she was taken from her homeland to be sold in the colonies. Wheatley describes that day, writing: “I, young in life, by a seemingly cruel fate/ Was torn from the happy place imagined by Afric:/ What atrocious sufferings must molest,/ What pains afflict my parents' breasts!/ Steel was that 'soul, and moved by no misery, / That a father took his beloved child” (24-29). Words like “cruel,” “harassing,” “steel” and “seized” paint a terrifying picture of the slave trade. Wheatley's use of connotatively negative words constructs a graphic representation of a regrettable event. Wheatley highlights the dire plight of African Americans who want nothing more than basic freedoms through his ability to insinuate this negative image into his otherwise positive poetry, saying that his nightmarish childhood story is the reason he values ​​freedom so much. Wheatley continues to write about the evils of the slave trade later in the stanza. Wheatley concludes the verse, writing, “Such, this is my case. And then can I only pray/May others never feel a tyrannical influence?" (30-31). These lines refer to the “iron chains” and “Tyranny” mentioned in lines 17 and 18. There seems to be no hope for the slaves and all that can be done is pray. Wheatley continues to talk about the ongoing struggle of African Americans who have gained nothing from the liberation of America. Wheatley ends the poem by returning to his praises of the count an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay His poem seems to praise the count completely, with the occasional digression explaining why Wheatley feels a certain way. Within this praise, however,. Wheatley inserted carefully chosen language to construct a negative mental image of the slave trade. A casual reader would probably not realize Wheatley's subtle message, but after a careful reading of the text, one can see how the choice of words and. Wheatley's use of imagery conveys a different message within his poem intended to praise the Earl of Dartmouth. African Americans faced many challenges in the 18th century, even after America gained independence from Great Britain. Free African Americans also struggled against overt and systematic racism. A,.