Phillis Wheatley, the first African American Poetess. She wrote to, General George Washington, "The land of freedom's heaven-defended race! Fixed are the eyes of nations on the scales" The world is still watching, but what are we defending? poets.org/poem/his-exc...

"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!".

-Emma Lazarus, 'The New Colossus'