Phillis Wheatley – Poet
After being kidnapped from West Africa and enslaved in Boston, Phillis Wheatley became the first African-American woman to publish a book of poetry in the colonies in 1773. Her work “Poems on Various Subjects” is a landmark achievement in US History. As a strong supporter of America’s fight for independence, Wheatley penned several poems in honor of the Continental Army. One of her works was sent to future president and acting commander George Washington, which inspired an invitation to visit him at his headquarters in Massachusetts.
Homepage Image Credit: Schomburg Center
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture