My name is Phillis Wheatley, and I am the first black woman in America to publish a book. I was born around the year 1754 and I was 7 years old when slave traders captured me from my home in Africa and shipped me to Boston. There, Susanna and John Wheatley bought me as a slave.
2. Phillis Wheatley was the first black woman in
America to publish a book. She had an
extraordinary literary talent. She especially
was a great poetry writer. It was said that
“She loved words”.
3. 1761 - Slave
1772- Phillis’s 1775 – Writes A
traders capture
1754 - Phillis Wheatley is first book is poem honoring
Phillis Wheatley
born in Senegal, Africa. published in General George
and ship her to
England Washington.
Boston.
1778 – Phillis 1778 – Phillis
1784 – Phillis
is set free Marries John
dies at age 31
from slavery Peters
Phillis
4. The boat upon
which Phillis
Wheatley was
brought from
Africa to
America in
1761.
5. Today we will
welcome Phillis
Wheatley, an
American
hero, and
interview her.
Hello. My name
is Phillis
Wheatley and I
was the first
black woman in
America to
publish a book.
6. The sign for the slave
auction at which
Phillis was sold.
Interviewer: Tell us, Ms. Phillis, how did you come to
America?
Phillis Wheatley: Well, in 1761, when I was about seven, slave
traders captured me and put me on the ship “Phillis”. I
sailed to Boston where Susanna and John Wheatley bought
me as a slave. They named me “Phillis”, after the boat.
In: How did you come to be such a great poet under the
burden of slavery?
PW: I have to say I do owe Mary Wheatley, Susanna
Wheatley’s daughter, much of my success. She taught me
how to read and write. Besides, I was only given light tasks
as a slave.
7. The Old South
Church in Boston
In: What else about your childhood
can you share with us?
PW: I can recall studying geography, Latin, Greek
mythology, science, and poetry. My favorite
subject was definitely poetry. I remember that I
loved poetry so much that Susanna would put a
piece of paper and a quill pen next to my bed
when I went to sleep, should any ideas come to
my mind. As I was learning how to read and
write, I got interested in the bible and I read it
with great eagerness. Susanna saw this, and she
brought me to the Old South Church where I was
baptized as a Christian.
8. Phillis’s first book
In: Was it hard work to publish your
first book?
PW: Oh yes indeed, but it paid. First, people didn’t
believe that a slave and woman could write poetry, so
a council was organized to decide whether or not I
wrote the poetry in my book. Fortunately, the people
at the council finally decided that I had written it, but
another obstacle lay in my way. You see, to be able to
publish a book, you have to have a certain amount of
subscribers. Well, not enough people in the colonies
subscribed for my book, so Susanna tried to sell it in
England. It was a success! Later, I tried to sell another
book, but it failed to sell from a lack of subscribers.
9. In: Did you fight against slavery?
PW: Yes. Using my style of poetry, I tried to
persuade people that Afro Americans are as
much capable of doing things as white men.
10. Phillis’s letter to
George Washington
In: Did you only write poetry?
PW: No, I also wrote letters to important people such as
the Earl of Dartmouth, King George’s secretary, and
even George Washington! George Washington liked
my poem and letter so much that he invited me over
to meet him!
In: Tell us about your late life.
PW: I married the wonderful John Peters, and we had 3
children. Sadly, all of them died.
In: Well, thank you for sharing with us, Ms. Wheatley.
That’s all for today!
11. The statue
made in
Phillis’s honor
The
school
named
after
The boat Phillis
Phillis was
named after
12. Her Poem “Farwell
Her Poem “Hymn
to America” to the Evening”
Her Poem “Farwell to continued.
Soon as the sun
America: forsook the
Not unregarding, eastern main
Susanna mourns, nor can I see The pealing
can I bear Her soul with grief thunder shook
opprest the heav’nly plain
To see the crystal Majestic
show’r But let no sighs, grandeur! From
And mark the tender no groans for me the zephyr's
falling tear Steal from her wing,
Exhales the
At sad departures hour pensive breast incense of the
blooming spring