Phillis Wheatley: Pioneer African American Poet

Phillis Wheatley was about seven years old when kidnapped and sold to slave traders. She endured the horrifying journey to Boston Massachusetts in 1761. In her owners home she learned to read and write English and began to compose poetry. Due to racism in the North American colonies at the time an English agent published her book in Great Britain. Wheatley became the first Black poet in America. She proved that Africans or Black people have creative abilities and opened the door for the acceptance of literary works by people of African descent. Today buildings societies and clubs are named in Wheatleys honor.