Phyllis Wheatley, Slave, Author, Poet, On Being Brought From Africa to America
From Africa to America
One man traced his roots back to Africa, back to where it all began. His odyssey sparked by the story of how, long
ago, his people were taken from a land far across the sea. It was the story of a people stripped of
their native heritage and sold into slavery;
A people, without a voice, without
freedom of choice. It was the story of a
people who struggled to hold onto their dignity as their women were violated
and their families ripped apart. When
scourged and beaten, they still possessed a courage that was admired and
envied. If they cried out, they cried
out in anguish to their Heavenly Father,
who was their only source of hope in a darkened existence. They were a people whose spirit could not be
broken, a people who courageously continued to cling to the customs and values
of their motherland.
Throughout the years, generation after generation told the story of how it all began.
Who would know that one day, the story would find its way back to Africa?
Who would know that this people, once stolen from their native soil would become the
fruit of a country that sought to enslave their very souls? Who would know that this people would rise above their plight and one day take their places
among the best in society, becoming doctors, lawyers, and teachers? It was what
they had dreamed of, fought for and hoped one day would come to be.
We can be proud because we have proven that we have inherited the spirit of courage and determination possessed by our
African ancestors. We are born warriors,
and as such, we will stand our ground and fight for our place in this land.
Through us, the story of how it all began will go on, from Africa to America and back again. We will carry this story throughout
time. It will forever be a part of our
history, forever in our hearts and in our souls, for it is the one thing that time
can never erase.