The directory «Plots»

Wheatley Phillis
(1753—1784)

Phillis Wheatley was an American hero, being seized from home in Africa to dying while trying to support her family. At age seven or eight, in 1760, Phillis was sold to John Wheatley in a slave market for his wife, Susannah, for a personal slave. After noticing that Phillis was always trying to scratch her name in charcoal on the outsides of the house, Susannah took the time to educate Phillis, letting her become one of the smartest women in Boston. Phillis loved poetry the most, though. She had her first poem published at age 17, which was read around the world and made her famous. Stunned, Susannah Wheatley tried to publish a book of more poems. Phillis had to stand in the middle of a semicircle of important men and convince them that the poetry was her own work. Somehow, she did it. Somehow, she convinced them that slaves could have the knowledge that whites had. So they signed a letter allowing her poems to be published into a book. Even with this letter of proof, Boston printers would not publish the book. Because of this, Phillis sailed to England to meet the King and get her poems published there. While sailing, Phillis turned around at the news of Susannah being ill. After both Susannah and John Wheatley died, Phillis married John Peters, giving him three children that died before she did. To support the family, Phillis was forced to work as a scullery maid died later at age 31 in pure poverty.

Senegal, 1971, Philis Wheatley

Turks & Caicos, 1982, Philis Wheatley and George Washington