After being kidnapped from West Africa and enslaved in Boston, Phillis Wheatley became the first African American woman to publish a poetry book in 1773.
Phillis Wheatley was born in West Africa in 1753. She was captured by slave traders and was brought to the U.S in 1761. Upon arriving in America, she was sold to the Wheatley family. Wheatley’s owner, Susannah Wheatley, and Mary wheatley began to educate Phillis in theology, literature, and history. Furthermore, within sixteen months of her arrival in America, she could read the Bible, Greek and Latin classics. By the age of fourteen, Wheatley began to write poetry, publishing her first poem in 1767. The publication of “An Elegiac Poem, on the Death of the Celebrated Divine George Whitefield”
Phillis Wheatley was born in West Africa in 1753. She was captured by slave traders and was brought to the U.S in 1761. Upon arriving in America, she was sold to the Wheatley family. Wheatley’s owner, Susannah Wheatley, and Mary wheatley began to educate Phillis in theology, literature, and history. Furthermore, within sixteen months of her arrival in America, she could read the Bible, Greek and Latin classics. By the age of fourteen, Wheatley began to write poetry, publishing her first poem in 1767. The publication of “An Elegiac Poem, on the Death of the Celebrated Divine George Whitefield”