A Book of Poetry
Who was Phillis Wheately?
Phillis Wheately was the first African American author of a published book of poetry. She was born into slavery and sold by a local chief to a visiting trader. On July 11th, 1761 he took her to Boston in the British Colony of Massachusetts. In Boston she was enslaved by, John Wheately, who bought her as a slave for his wife, Susanna. According to Wikipedia, they were the ones that gave her the name Phillis – after the ship that had imported her.
Susana and John’s eighteen-year-old daughter, Mary was Wheately’s first tutor in reading and writing – with help from their son, Nathaniel. John Wheately’s family also funded Phillis an extraordinary education. By the age of twelve she was able to read Greek and Latin classics in their original languages. Two years later she wrote her first poem, To the University of Cambridge, in England. The Wheately family immediately recognized her literary ability and supported her by leaving the household labor to their other slaves.
Strongly influenced by the works of Alexander Pope, John Milton, Homer, Horace, and Virgil – Phillis wrote more and more poetry.
In 1768, Phillis Wheately wrote, To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, where she praised King George III for repealing the Stamp Act. In 1770 she wrote a poetic tribute to the evangelist, George Whitefield and on September 1st, 1771 – her book of poems was published. After the publication of her book the Wheately’s emancipated Phillis. She went on to meet her husband, John Peters and together they had three kids, however none of them survived.
In December 1784, Phillis Wheately passed away due to complications from childbirth.
Books
*Kids*
Phillis’s Big Test | Catherine Clinton
My Name Is Phillis Wheately: A Story of Slavery and Freedom | Afua Cooper
Revolutionary Poet: A Story about Phillis Wheately | Maryann Weidt
Phillis Wheately | Helen Ross, Kathryn Kilby Borland
Phillis Wheately: First Published African American Poet | Deborah Kent
Phillis Wheately | Merle A. Richmond
*Adults*
Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons | Ann Rinaldi
Complete Writings | Phillis Wheately
A Voice of Her Own: The Story of Phillis Wheately, Slave Poet | Kathryn Lasky
Memoir and Poems of Phillis Wheately: A Native African and a Slave. Dedicated to the Friends of the Africans | Phillis Wheately
Source(s)
"Phillis Wheately." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 1 June 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillis_Wheately
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