Profile: Phillis Wheatley

Overview:

Phillis Wheatley was born around 1753 in a region of West Africa that is now part of Gambia or nearby areas of Senegal. At about eight years old, she was kidnapped, enslaved, and brought to Boston aboard a ship called the Phillis, which became the source of her first name. Purchased by the Wheatley family, Phillis quickly learned English, Latin, reading, and writing. As a teenager, she became the first African American woman to publish a book of poetry and one of the first women in the American colonies to publish a book. Her writing brought her international attention and connected her to important leaders of the American Revolution. Some of her poems remain controversial today because readers disagree about how to interpret her views on Christianity, Africa, slavery, and freedom. Despite gaining fame and freedom, Wheatley later faced poverty and hardship. Her life shows both the possibilities and limits placed on Black women in early America. 

Quick Facts:

• Born around 1753 in West Africa, likely in present-day Gambia or nearby regions

• Enslaved at about age eight and brought to Boston aboard the ship Phillis

• Learned English and Latin after arriving in America

• Became the first African American woman to publish a book of poetry

• Published the book titled, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral in 1773

• Corresponded with leaders including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin

• Gained freedom after her first book was published

• Some of her poems continue to spark debate because readers interpret her views on Christianity, Africa, slavery, and freedom quite differently 

• Married John Peters, a free Black businessman and grocer

• Had three children, all of whom died young

• Died in poverty in 1784 at about age 31

Why This Story Matters:

Phillis Wheatley matters because she challenged ideas about race, intelligence, and who could contribute to American culture. During a time when many people wrongly believed Africans were intellectually inferior, Wheatley published poetry that gained attention across America and Europe. Her success forced many white leaders to confront their racist assumptions. Wheatley’s educational success was remarkable because she learned multiple languages while enslaved. Politically, her work connected to the Revolutionary era through poems written about liberty, leadership, and freedom. Her published books also made her one of the earliest African American women to achieve business success through writing and public recognition. Wheatley’s story reminds us that African Americans shaped the nation’s culture and political conversations even while facing slavery and exclusion. 

Legacy:

Phillis Wheatley is often called the mother of African American literature because she opened doors for generations of Black writers. Her work proved that African Americans shaped American literature from the nation’s earliest years. Even though she became famous, Wheatley still faced racism, sexism, and financial struggles after gaining freedom. Her life also highlights how fame and education did not guarantee security for Black women in early America. Today, scholars continue to debate and study her work. Some readers view certain poems as reflecting the influence of the Christian and colonial society in which she lived, while others see evidence of subtle resistance to slavery and racial prejudice. These ongoing debates raise important questions about identity, survival, resistance, and how enslaved people found ways to speak in systems designed to silence them. 

Discussion Questions:

1. Phillis Wheatley had to prove to a group of powerful white men that she wrote her own poetry. What does this tell us about gender and race and who society believed could be intelligent or talented in colonial America?

2. Some historians and readers disagree about how to interpret Phillis Wheatley’s writings on Christianity, Africa, and slavery. Why do you think people can read the same historical document and come to different conclusions?

3. Wheatley became famous while still facing limits because she was Black, female, and formerly enslaved. How do race, gender, and social class work together to shape who gets opportunities and who gets remembered?

Reflection Prompt:

1. Phillis Wheatley achieved success as a writer, but she still faced the challenges of slavery, prejudice, and inequality. How might being both admired and excluded have influenced her hopes, beliefs, and view of America? 

Sources & Further Reading:

1. “Phillis Wheatley (1754–1784).” BlackPast. 

2. “Poem by Phillis Wheatley Published in the Virginia Gazette.” Newspaper Print. March 30, 1776. Virginia Gazette. Reproduced by George Washington’s Mount Vernon. 

Page Navigation:

<To Rev. War    Next Profile>