Phillis Wheatley: America’s First African American Woman Poet Who Spoke Truth to Power

Phillis Wheatley remains a towering figure in early American literature. As the first African American woman — and among the very first enslaved people — to publish a book of poetry, her life and work resonate deeply today. Though born in bondage, her gifted mind and courageous voice reached presidents and patriots, offering praise of liberty and a quiet but powerful critique of slavery. Her legacy inspired both abolitionists and American thinkers.

Early Life: From West Africa to Enslavement

Phillis Wheatley was born around 1753 in West Africa, likely in what is now Gambia or Senegal. When she was about seven or eight years old, she was kidnapped, sold into slavery, and brought across the Atlantic to Boston. There, she was purchased by John and Susanna Wheatley, who named her after the slave ship “Phillis” that carried her. 

Her enslavers recognized her intelligence. Under their care, she received a rare education: within sixteen months, she was reading the Bible, Greek and Latin classics, and British literature. By her early teens, she was writing poetry, influenced by the likes of Alexander Pope, John Milton, Homer, and Virgil. 

Breaking Barriers: First Book of Poetry

At just 14, Wheatley published her first poem, “On Messrs. Hussey and Coffin,” in the Newport Mercury (1767). But it was her elegy on the death of preacher George Whitefield (1770) that brought her wide acclaim. Unable to find a publisher in America (many could not believe that an enslaved Black woman could write), she and the Wheatleys traveled to London. 

In 1773, her landmark book Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral was published in London — making her not only the first African American woman but also the first enslaved African American to publish a book of poetry. To back the authenticity of her authorship, the book included a preface signed by prominent Boston men, including John Hancock.

Shortly after publication, she returned to Boston and was emancipated by her owner’s family. 

Voice of Liberty and Critique of Slavery

Though Wheatley’s poems often employed the formal styles of neoclassical poetry, they also carried subtle but potent political and moral messages.

• In her most famous work, “On Being Brought from Africa to America,” she both acknowledges her Christian faith and gently rebukes racism, insisting on spiritual equality and shared humanity.
• In other poems and letters, she praised the American struggle for independence, seeing the cause of liberty as intertwined with her own longing for freedom.
• Yet she did not shy away from criticizing slavery. In her 1778 poem “On the Death of General Wooster,” she denounced the “ungenerous” act of what she called the “blameless race” held in bondage.

Her poetry demonstrated that an enslaved Black woman could not only master classical forms, but also use them to speak truth to power.

Influence and Legacy

Phillis Wheatley’s impact during her lifetime was extraordinary. Her works were read by leading figures of her day — George Washington among them. She even dedicated a poem to Washington, and he warmly responded. 

She became a symbol for abolitionists, who pointed to her brilliance as proof that people of African descent were intellectually equal to their white counterparts. Her life continues to inspire American writers and thinkers centuries later: W. E. B. Du Bois called her a “pioneer” of African American literature, and modern poets from Amanda Gorman to Nikki Giovanni recognize her influence. 

Despite the challenges she faced — her later life was marked by poverty, failed publishing efforts, and personal loss — her poetry laid early groundwork for civil rights and literary tradition.

Phillis Wheatley’s journey — from a child taken from Africa, to an intellectual force whose words traveled across the Atlantic and into the hearts of patriots and presidents — is a testament to the enduring power of poetry, faith, and the human spirit. Her legacy continues to shine as a cornerstone in America’s founding-era story.