Jupiter Hammon

Jupiter Hammon – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the extraordinary life, works, and enduring legacy of Jupiter Hammon (1711–c. 1806), the first African-American poet published in North America. Discover his biography, major writings, spiritual perspective, and timeless quotes.

Introduction

Jupiter Hammon, born in 1711 and believed to have died around 1806, holds a special place in American literary and cultural history. As the first African-American poet to be published in North America, he navigated the contradictions of life under slavery through faith, perseverance, and careful expression. His writings—poems, essays, sermons, and an address to Black Americans—offer a rare 18th-century voice from within bondage, revealing both deep spiritual conviction and subtle critique of injustice. Today, Hammon’s life and works stand as foundational to African-American literature, and his legacy remains a source of inspiration, reflection, and historical insight.

Early Life and Family

Jupiter Hammon was born on October 17, 1711, at the Lloyd Manor (then known as Queens Village, on Long Island, New York) to enslaved parents, believed to be named Opium and Rose.

His family was among the early enslaved individuals acquired by the Lloyd family. He would remain enslaved his entire life, serving successive generations of the Lloyds.

Because of the Lloyd family’s associations with the Anglican Church and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, Hammon was permitted a rudimentary education—an opportunity rarely afforded to enslaved people in colonial America.

How exactly he learned remains uncertain: some records suggest he might have been taught alongside the Lloyd children, or given access to the manor library.

These early circumstances—born into bondage, yet granted literacy—would shape Hammon’s unique trajectory as a poet, preacher, and moral narrator from within the institution of slavery.

Youth and Education

Details about Hammon’s youth are sparse, but scholars have pieced together key elements:

• Education and literacy. The Lloyds appear to have tolerated and even encouraged his reading and writing, likely motivated by religious aims (e.g. reading the Bible).

• Clerical work. Over time, Hammon gained trust within the Lloyd household to assist in bookkeeping, correspondence, and other administrative tasks—roles requiring literacy and reliability.

• Spiritual formation. Influenced by the religious revivals of the era (notably the Great Awakening), Hammon became a devout Christian, integrating Scripture and faith into all his writings.

Although no formal “school transcripts” survive for him, Hammon's writings evidence strong command of Bible passages, biblical allusions, and rhetorical structure—skills rare even among free authors of his time.

Career and Achievements

Literary Contributions

Despite the constraints of enslavement, Jupiter Hammon is credited with at least eight publications (poems and prose), though additional unpublished manuscripts have surfaced in recent decades.

Some of his known works include:

• “An Evening Thought: Salvation by Christ, with Penitential Cries” (written December 25, 1760; published as a broadside in 1761) — this marks the earliest known published work by an African American in North America.

• “An Address to Miss Phillis Wheatley” (published ~1778) — a respectful poetic address to Phillis Wheatley, the first published African-American female poet. Hammon couples quatrains with Bible verse references.

• “The Kind Master and Dutiful Servant” (poetic dialogue) — explores dynamics between master and servant, with Christian undertones.

• “A Poem for Children with Thoughts on Death” (1782) — offering religious instruction and reflection for younger readers.

• “An Address to Negroes in the State of New York” (1786 / published as 1787) — his most famous oration, delivered to the African Society in New York City.

In recent years, scholars have also uncovered previously unknown poems, including one in Yale’s archives (2011) and another in the New-York Historical Society (2015), expanding Hammon’s known oeuvre.

Spiritual and Public Role

Beyond poetry, Hammon functioned as a preacher and moral guide. His writing, sermons, and public addresses consistently appealed to Christian values as a means to uplift the enslaved and free Black community.

His Address to Negroes is particularly significant: delivered in 1786 at age 75 (while still enslaved), it used biblical symbolism to urge moral conduct, self-improvement, and hope in divine justice.

While Hammon never explicitly called for violent rebellion, he made room for critique. For example, he asserted that slavery was a human institution, not divinely ordained, and he believed in gradual abolition rather than instant manumission.

His works circulated among abolitionist circles—especially among Quakers in New York and Pennsylvania—thus influencing early anti-slavery discourse.

Later Life and Death

Records affirm Hammon was alive as late as 1790, when a Lloyd account book notes he was sent on an errand.

No precise record of his death exists, but by 1806 it was assumed he had passed.

It is believed that he is buried in an unmarked grave on the former Lloyd estate, separated from the family burial grounds.

Historical Milestones & Context

To appreciate Jupiter Hammon’s life fully, we must situate him within the larger historical currents of his time:

• The institution of slavery in colonial New York. Unlike the more rigid anti-literacy laws in the southern colonies, New York and New England had somewhat looser regulations on slave literacy, especially when linked to religious instruction.

• The Great Awakening. The revivalist fervor of the mid-18th century shaped much of Hammon’s theology and literary style, pushing religious introspection and spiritual discipline.

• The American Revolution (c. 1775–1783). While the revolution promised liberty to colonists, it exposed the stark hypocrisy of a society that fought for freedom while enslaving millions. Hammon lived through this era and subtly referenced the paradox in his writings.

• Early abolitionist movements. After American independence, northern states gradually moved toward ending slavery; literary voices like Hammon’s provided moral and theological ammunition to the cause.

• Rediscovery in modern times. For long stretches, Hammon’s works were neglected. In recent decades, scholars have reasserted his status, unearthing new manuscripts, contextualizing his thought, and restoring him to literary canons.

Legacy and Influence

Jupiter Hammon’s legacy is multifaceted and far-reaching:

1. Founding African-American literature. As the earliest known African-American poet to be published in North America, Hammon is often called a progenitor of Black literary expression.

2. Voice from within bondage. Unlike many abolitionist writers who were free, Hammon’s perspective is singular: he wrote while enslaved, negotiating the tension between loyalty, faith, critique, and survival.

3. Moral and religious framing. His consistent use of Christian theology as the framework for addressing slavery, morality, self-worth, and redemption has influenced later Black authors who seek to balance faith and social justice.

4. Historical insight. Hammon’s works provide scholars with direct evidence of the intellectual and spiritual world of enslaved people in the 18th century—a perspective too often lost in archival silences.

5. Inspiration and reclamation. His rediscovery and elevation in modern scholarship have inspired renewed interest in early African-American voices and a more inclusive understanding of American literary heritage.

In recognition of his importance, institutions like Preservation Long Island now feature the Jupiter Hammon Project to further research, educate, and commemorate his life and works.

Personality and Talents

Although concrete details about Hammon’s personal life are limited, his writings and the circumstances of his long life allow us to sketch certain traits and capacities:

• Steadfast faith. Religious belief was central to Hammon’s worldview. His writings repeatedly return to biblical motifs, sin and redemption, Christian duty, and eschatological hope.

• Prudence and caution. As an enslaved writer under watchful eyes, Hammon often framed his critiques in Christian language and rhetorical subtlety, walking a fine line between protest and sanctified obedience.

• Intellectual acuity. His biblical allusions, structural discipline, use of metaphor, and rhetorical balance point to a mind well versed in Scripture and doctrinal logic.

• Moral educator. He saw himself as a “father and friend” to the enslaved community, offering religious counsel, moral exhortation, and spiritual consolation.

• Tenacity and longevity. Surviving into his 90s—a remarkable age for the era—and persevering through life under bondage while writing speaks to extraordinary resilience.

Famous Quotes of Jupiter Hammon

While his corpus is not extensive, a few lines and statements stand out, capturing his thought, faith, and social concern:

“If we should ever get to Heaven, we shall find nobody to reproach us for being black, or for being slaves.”
— An Address to Negroes in the State of New-York

“Let all the time you can get be spent in trying to learn to read. Get those who can read to learn you, but remember, that what you learn for, is to read the Bible.”
— Advice from Address to Negroes on schooling and piety

From his poem The Kind Master and Dutiful Servant:

“Master. My Servant, grace proceeds from God, / And truth should be with thee; / Whence e’er you find it in His word, / Thus far come follow me.”

These quotations reflect his emphasis on spiritual uplift, moral conduct, educational aspiration, and Christian humility.

Lessons from Jupiter Hammon

From Jupiter Hammon’s life and writings, we can draw several enduring lessons:

1. Voice under constraint can still resonate. Despite the limits of his condition, Hammon’s intelligence, faith, and eloquence allowed him to speak across centuries.

2. Faith and critique can coexist. Hammon models a way to critique injustice from within spiritual conviction, rather than simple antagonism.

3. Education is empowerment. His belief in literacy—especially biblical literacy—shows how knowledge can become an instrument of dignity, resistance, and self-affirmation.

4. Historical humility matters. His life reminds us how many early Black voices were marginalized or forgotten, and how recovering them enriches our understanding of American history.

5. Legacy through perseverance. Though modest in volume, Hammon’s work endured and is now celebrated—showing that consistency, even when subtle, bears fruit.

Conclusion

Jupiter Hammon’s life is a profound testament to spiritual resilience, moral courage, and the power of the written word. Born and living as an enslaved man in colonial America, he harnessed the scarce freedom of literacy to articulate faith, critique the injustice of his age, and minister to the enslaved community. His achievements paved the way for later African-American writers and thinkers, and his quotations continue to inspire.

As you explore more of Hammon’s writings—his poems, sermons, and his Address to Negroes in the State of New York—you will find both a window into 18th-century Black experience and a voice speaking across centuries to faith, dignity, and justice. Would you like me to provide full texts, analysis of one of his works, or a curated list of resources on Jupiter Hammon?