Phillis Wheatley
(Circa 1753-1784)
First African-American Poet Published in Book Form
Born in Senegambia, Phillis Wheatley was sold into slavery when she was about seven years old. She once had to stand in the middle of important White men to convince them that Africans could have the knowledge that Whites had and that the poetry she wrote was her work. Even with a letter from these important men, American printers would not publish her book, so Wheatley sailed to England to meet the King and to publish her poems.
Wheatley married John Peters, and they had three children. A handwritten and signed letter dated February 14, 1776 by Wheatley brought a record setting $253,000 at auction on November 22, 2005.
The Port Of Harlem Gambian Education Partnership provided this panel to educate people in the Gambia and the United States about each other. Original pencil drawing by William Hasenbuhler.
