She is known as the first African American Woman to publish a book of poem
1753
1784
Somewhere in West Africa, possibly Senegal or Gambia
African
1767- publication of her first poem titled On Messrs Hussey and Coffin in Rhode Island’s Newport Mercury newspaper
1773-publication of her first and only book of poems titled Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral in London, England
Phillis was captured as a slave at the age of eight. Her place of birth is unknown but she was captured from West Africa, specifically somewhere in the Senegal/ Gambia region. Her birth name is also unknown , and she was named after the ship Phillis that took her from her home. In August 1761 she was bought by Susanna and John Wheatley as a domestic help. She was described as a slender frail female child and the slave traders believed she was terminally ill, so they wished to sell her before her death
She began writing at a young age and at the age of 18 had a collection of 28 poems
1767 she published her first poem titled On Messrs Hussey and Coffin in Rhode Island’s Newport Mercury newspaper
In 1768 she wrote To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty in which she praised King George III for repealing the Stamp Act.
In 1770 Wheatley wrote a poetic tribute to the evangelist George Whitefield
In 1773 she published her first and only book of poems titled Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral in London, England, which brought her fame
In 1775 she wrote To His Excellency, George Washington which was acknowledged by George Washington himself
In 1779 she issued a proposal for a second volume of poems but was unable to publish it because she lacked the support in America
Many white Americans refused to believe or acknowledge that Phillis was the owner of her work. They were reluctant to accept that such writings could come from a Black slave. She publicly defended her work in 1772 and was examined by a group of Boston luminaries, who later acknowledged her intelligence and literacy. They signed an attestation which was published in the preface of her book. There was reluctance in America about publication of her work because of her background, so she sought publication in England with the help of Mr Wheatley. In her poem To the University of Cambridge in New England she expressed her yearning for intellectual challenge and her curiosity about life She was particularly interested in British literature, astronomy, Greek and Latin classics, and geography. She intended to publish a second collection of poems in 1779, however she lacked support for this in America which was not interested in her work.
After she was bought by the Wheatleys she was taught to read and write alongside her duties as a slave. They recognised her talent and encouraged her writing and Mr Wheatley was particularly helpful in publishing, her work. At the age of 18 she had a collection of 28 poems which was published in 1773. On 1 April 1778, Phillis married John Peters, whom she had known for five years. She took his name, regardless of the disapproval of some of her closest friends. John was a free Black man with aspirations of professional greatness and entrepreneurship. The economic crises in the 1700s were harsh, especially for free Black people, and Phillis and John felt this hardship. John was unemployed and in debt, leaving Phillis to work as a charwoman while he dodged creditors and tried to find employment. Despite this she continued to write and publish poems
Phillis Wheatley | Poetry Foundation. (2022). Retrieved 19 February 2022, from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/phillis-wheatley
Carretta, Vincent. “Phillis Wheatley: Researching a Life.” Historical Journal of Massachusetts 43, no. 2 (2015): 64
Phillis Wheatley | Poetry Foundation. (2022). Retrieved 19 February 2022, from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/phillis-wheatley
Carretta, Vincent. “Phillis Wheatley: Researching a Life.” Historical Journal of Massachusetts 43, no. 2 (2015): 64.
Today in history – september 1. The Library of Congress. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/september-01#:~:text=Wheatley’s%20first%20published%20poem%2C%20%E2%80%9COn,sailed%20to%20London%20in%201773
Asante, Molefi Kete (2002). 100 Greatest African Americans: A Biographical Encyclopedia, New York: Prometheus Books. ISBN 1-57392-963-8.
Boston Women’s Heritage Trail. Archived from the original on January 6, 2016.
17 Phillis Wheatley quotes from the first African-American to publish poems. Free Ideas For Family Fun & Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://kidadl.com/articles/phillis-wheatley-quotes-from-the-first-african-american-to-publish-poems
Michals, E. by D. (n.d.). Phillis Wheatley. National Women’s History Museum. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/phillis-wheatley#:~:text=Efforts%20to%20publish%20a%20second,due%20to%20complications%20from%20childbirth
