Where online can I find 18th century African-American poetry that expresses the opressed existence of slaves?

Answer 1

You may be better off trying a library than online. Look for works by Phyllis Wheatley, Jupiter Hammond and Lucy Terry Prince. However, I think that what you will discover is that the African-Americans whose works were published at this time tended to write about subjects more palatable to a white audience. For example, consider this poem by Whitley, an African who was kidnapped and brought to America to be a servant in a Boston family, where fortunately she was educated.

ON BEING BROUGHT FROM AFRICA TO
AMERICA.


'T WAS 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, Christians, Negroes black as Cain
May be refined, and join the angelic train.

If was up to later writers to express the themes for which you are looking. Look at the works of Paul Laurence Dunbar, who wrote in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Answer 2

some Blacks seem to think of that each and every person Whites authorized of slavery. no longer actual in any respect. Many whites helped slaves escape from their proprietors, presented a shelter for them until they might transport them to Canada. those weren't all Northerners, some have been from the South as nicely. They risked their lives to help the slaves. some slave proprietors tried to tutor the slaves below the pretense of their toddlers desiring their slave latest at the same time as they have been getting to understand their instructions. None of that's ever reported by the Blacks, they desire to blame us involved in something that a lot of our ancestors had no longer something to do with & hated the gadget of enslavement of others. We did no longer do precise to the freed slaves, they got here North & we surpassed over them & taken care of them badly. Giving them the worst jobs & distrust. The KKK became into throughout this u . s . killing them while ever they chosen. they have a precise to be bitter, yet we could circulate on, we won't be able to save hating one yet another perpetually, we are all human beings & the Black contribution to this county has been immeasurable. shall all of us tutor slightly compassion & expertise for another. it is way previous time to realize this! Rev. Wright is basically remembering the way it became into while he became into youthful & confident, he might slightly bitter, yet he needs to coach slightly forgiveness if he's in fact a minister of the Christian faith.

Answer 3

Check out this link, it might help:

http://www.brycchancarey.com/slavery/poetry.htm

hopefully you can get some info out of this.
Hope it helps!