Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) the first African-American (also the first American slave, the first person of African descent, and only the third colonial American woman) author of a published book of poetry.
Snatched from Senegal/Gambia, West Africa at seven years old, she was enslaved in Boston as a small sickly child; purchased by John Wheatley as a domestic servant (originally) for his wife Susanna Wheatley.
Susanna Relieved The Child Of Most
Domestic Duties And Began To Educated Her
Susanna Wheatley noticed that Phillis had an extraordinary capacity to learn. The children from the Wheatley family taught her how to read and write. Phillis immersed herself in many different books including the Bible and geography.
Phillis began publishing her poems about the age of twelve. Soon after her fame began to garner attention throughout the Atlantic, and as far as London. With Susanna Wheatley’s support, Phillis began posting advertisements for subscribers for her first book of poems.
Her most famous poem is titled: On Being Brought from Africa to America which scolds the reading audience to remember that Africans must be included in the Christian faith because we were the beginning. To this day Phillis Wheatley is a founding voice of African American literary tradition.
Phillis began publishing her poems about the age of twelve. Soon after her fame began to garner attention throughout the Atlantic, and as far as London. With Susanna Wheatley’s support, Phillis began posting advertisements for subscribers for her first book of poems.
Her most famous poem is titled: On Being Brought from Africa to America which scolds the reading audience to remember that Africans must be included in the Christian faith because we were the beginning. To this day Phillis Wheatley is a founding voice of African American literary tradition.
No comments:
Post a Comment