1. White: symbolizes purity and innocence. It also alludes to the fact that the white people during this time were seen as superior. The little black boy felt that “his soul was white”, saying that he is equal to a white boy on the inside.
2. Bereav’d: Deprived or robbed; taken away by force; spec. deprived by death of a near relative, or of one connected by some endearing tie.
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Bereav’d of light: This phrase means that the light was taken away from the boy. The “light” parallels the inner self that is revealed through his soul, not his skin.
3. Rising Sun: This phrase connects with the romantic characteristic of observing physical nature and seeing a deeper meaning. The little black boy looks at the sun, and his mother alludes to the fact that God is in all of nature and will enlighten him.
4. Cloud: Cloud equals skin. The boy’s black skin clouds him and hinders him in society. It prevents his true self from shining through.
5. Learn’d the heat to bear: When the boy has learned to accept that God’s love (heat) is enough and that the outer self is unreflective of his inner light, then he will have happiness.
6. Cloud Free: In death we are all equal, and when the little black boy dies he will be free of the cloud, which is the color of his skin, and he will be like the white boy.
7. Love me: In heaven the white boy and the black boy will be connected because the barriers of society will be lifted and they will be free.