Phillis Wheatley and Benjamin Banneker's writing conveyed different messages. However, both authors struggled with living in the same world of inequality after coming to America. Wheatley's poems, On Being Brought From Africa to America, To S.M., a Young African Painter, On Seeing His Works, and On Imagination all speak to her experiences of coming from Africa to America and the saving grace of Christianity and imagination. Whereas, Benjamin Banneker's letter to Thomas Jefferson focuses more on pointing to the inconsistencies in Jefferson's own written work and his day to day actions. Despite the vast differences in their themes they both share the harsh realities of living in a world where they are viewed as less than deserving because of their skin color.
Wheatley's poems have an optimistic tone to them, which I can personally relate to. Even though she was sold into slavery at a young age, she…show more content… In her poem, On Being Brought From Africa to America, she focuses more on her journey into Christianity. I believe that any Christian can connect to her journey in some way. We may not have physically traveled from a land where Christianity was not available, but we have all had that experience that took us spiritually from the "pagan land" to the "promise land". I believe that because readers can so easily make this connection, it is the reason this is her most famous poem. Wheatley's poem, To S.M., a Young African Painter, On Seeing His Works focuses more on paying tribute to her friend, however, her Christian views are seen once again in this poem as well. I particularly like how she brings Christianity into the poem in line three when she says, "When first thy pencil did those beauties give,/And breathing figures learn from thee to live," pointing to the fact that God was the first artist.
