Behind the infamous poems of Phillis Wheatley lies and incredible and inspirational story of a young African girl and the struggles she overcame in her short life.
Phillis Wheatley was born in Gambia, Africa around the year 1753. Her young age mase her unsuitable for sale in the West Indies or the southern colonies. She was brought to Boston where she was bought by John Wheatley, a prominent tailor, in 1761. Wheatley bought her intending for her to be trained as an attendant for his wife. She was given her name by John and his wife Susanna after the ship she journeyed to America on, The Phillis. Soon after her arrival the Wheatley's discovered her writing on the wall with chalk. Instead of reprimanding her for this, as many white owners would have done, they began to teach her to read and write. She was a very bright child who was reading passages from the Bible, Greek and Latin classics, astronomy, geography, history, and British literature only sixteen months after her arrival. The Wheatley's daughter, Mary, encouraged and helped Phillis.
Phillis had her first poem published at the tender age of twelve. It was entitled, "On Messrs. Hussey and Coffin." Her reputation was set with the poem "On the Death of Reverend Mr. George Whitefeild", which was published in North America and England.
In 1773, the family moved to England due to Susanna Wheatley's allergies. In England a publisher was found for Phillis's first book, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral. It was the first book of published poetry by an African American.
Because some were skeptical of Phillis really being the author, due to her age and their racism, her publisher added a note at the beginning of the manuscript. It included the couching of Phillis's competence by eighteen prominent members of society, including the governor and John Hancock.
Phillis was freed by her master in 1773. She continues living with the Wheatley's until John Wheatley's death in 1778.
