1773 (approx.): The inclusion of the poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America” in the historical record highlights the intellectual and cultural dimensi…

1773 (approx.): The inclusion of the poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America” in the historical record highlights the intellectual and cultural dimensions of the captive experience. Traditionally attributed to Phillis Wheatley, the text reflects on the concept of “mercy” in the context of being taken from a “Pagan land” and introduced to Christian theology. Such literary works provide a rare perspective on the spiritual and psychological transitions forced upon Africans during the Middle Passage. This entry serves to illustrate the complex intersections of faith, identity, and survival within the broader statistical narrative of the slave trade.