An African in New York

Name: Colette Leong                                                                                      March 2017

Humanities                                                Africans in NY: Creative Narrative Assignment

Messages Through Poetry

          I was born as the child of a slave on Long Island, 1711, by the name of Jupiter Hammon. As my life progressed, I was enslaved by Henry Lloyd, a merchant living in New York. I still remember standing under the hot sun with my parents at the slave market. All I could hear were men shouting prices and rich white men and women’s feet stomping on the hard, dusty ground. Soon enough, I was split from my family and sent to New York. The ride to New York was bumpy, dreadful, and rough. After sleepless nights, I arrived in the bustling, crowded city of New York. Fortunately, in the Lloyd household, Mr. Lloyd hired a Harvard graduate and British missionary to teach me how to read and write. Not only was I one of the few blacks in New York who was literate, I was even more educated than most whites. I was educated was because Mr. Lloyd wanted me to help carry on with his family business. My job was to be a bookkeeper and clerk. God gave me the gift to be able to learn how to read and write as well as the option to be involved with poetry. It was as if I had found my hidden identity. This identity stood apart from being the slave and property of a rich white man. This identity was being a poet.

          I was a believer of equality and justice, and still am. I later converted to Methodism and wrote religious poetry for the eyes of God to read. I was sure that God also believed everyone is equal and has the right to do what their hearts desire. I wrote poetry to inspire young blacks to activate and stand up for themselves. I was writing poems in the dark of the night during my sleep time, and the light of the day during my lessons with my teachers. Although it was not I who was seeking freedom and equality, I was seeking freedom and equality for the millions of black slaves who got mistreated everyday. Since I was put in such an unlikely and privileged role of a well-treated slave, I wanted to pass on my wisdom to other slaves. By writing and publishing encouraging poems, I taught about respect and faith in God. My poems consisted of words telling young and old blacks to believe in equality and faith. To do this, they must resist negative feelings. On the other hand, living by your master’s rules was important because you can’t change your fate. I believed that we must keep our good reputation and not get discouraged by anger or sadness. Even though the whites may not like us, or say upsetting comments, we must stay calm. Believing in God is key, as is having a good reputation. I stayed loyal to the Lloyds while I pursued poetry and lived my life. In 1787, I wrote “An Address to the Negroes of the State of New York.” I wrote of religion and freedom. Even though I felt oppressed, controlled, and upset about being owned by someone, I resisted it and handled it. This is how I influenced young blacks to have good manners and be optimistic. Without poetry, I wouldn’t have such an influential role in my community.