Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) was born West Africa, in either Senegal or Gambia. At the age of seven, she was sold into slavery and transported to the British colonies in North America. She was purchased by the Wheatley family of Boston who named her “Phyillis” after the slave ship she was purchased from.
Her owners, having somewhat of a progressive reputation in Boston, provided tutoring for Phillis. She soon proved herself something of a literary prodigy. At the age of twelve, Phillis was relieved of her slave duties so she could continue her studies full time. She began writing poetry.
In 1773, Phillis accompanied Nathaniel Wheatley, the eldest son of the family, to England. She was a smashing success and her first book of poetry was published in London. In 1775, Phillis published a poem lauding George Washington. The following year, General Washington invited Phillis to his plantation to thank her for the poem and Thomas Paine republished the poem in the Pennsylvania Gazette.
In 1772, Phillis was forced to defend her work in court because white people were incredulous that that a black person could write such accomplished poetry. She was cross-examined by several notable Bostonians, including: John Hancock and Thomas Hutchinson, then the governor of Massachusetts. They determined that her poetry was authentic and, insultingly, a signed authentication was added to the preface of Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral.
In 1778, in the middle of the Revolution, John Wheatley, Phillis’ owner, died and she was manumitted in his will. She remained with the family until Mary Wheatley, the family’s only daughter and Phillis’ former tutor, died shortly afterwards.
Phillis quickly married another freed Black named John Peters. They were very poor and lost two infant children early in their marriage. Phillis continued writing but because of the war and a lack of access to patrons, was unable to publish another volume of poetry. Some of her later work was published in newsletters and compilation volumes.
In 1784, John Peters was imprisoned for debt and Phillis went to work as a maid to support her son. She died at the age of 31 on December 5, 1784. Her son died three and half hours later.
Phillis’ poetry rarely comments on slavery. Given her experiences and the relative generosity of her owners, this isn’t surprising. Christianity is a major theme in her work, as are tributes to prominent leaders. She seems to use Christianity as a vehicle to contrast her interrupted African childhood with her life in the the colonies.
During her life she was acclaimed by many of her contemporaries, albeit on racist terms. Today, buildings have been named for her at the University of Massachusetts, Boston and Norfolk State University.
Most agree that Phillis Wheatley’s work is the foundation of African-American literature. Her work is a statement of intellectual equality, freedom and defiance that rivals the power of Common Sense, The Federalist Papers or any of the seminal works that inspired the Revolution. Phillis Wheatley’s work isn’t just the foundation of African-American literature, it is a fundamental piece of American literature.
