Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,
Taught my benighted soul to understand
That there’s a God, that there’s a Saviour too.
Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.
Some view our sable race with scornful eye;
“Their color is a diabolic dye.”
Remember, Christian, Negroes, black as Cain,
May be refined and join the angelic train……
From the complete works of Phillis Wheatley, copyright 1988, Oxford University Press by permission.
Reference:
Phyllis Wheatley
