Phillis Wheatly

Phillis Wheatley was the first African-American[->0] poe[->1]t and first African-American w[->2]oman to publish her writing. Born in Gambia[->3], she was sold into thrall at the age of 7 or 8 and transported to North America. She was purchased by the Wheatley family of Boston[->4], who taught her to read and print, and encouraged her rhyme when they saw her talent. At the age of eight, she was sold to the wealthy Bostonian merchant and tailor John Wheatley, who bought the young girl as a servant for his wife Susanna. John and Susanna Wheatley named the young girl Phillis, by and by the ship that had brought her to America. She was given their last name of Wheatley, as was a common custom if any surname was used for slaves.
The Wheatleys fifteen-year-old daughter Mary first tutored Phillis in reading and writing. Their watchword Nathaniel also helped her as well. John Wheatley was known as a progressive throughout New England; his family gave Phillis an unprecedented education for an enslaved person, and for a female of any race. By the age of twelve, Phillis was reading Greek and Latin classics and difficult passages from the Bible. Recognizing her literary ability, the Wheatley family supported Phillis education and left-hand(a) the household labor to their other domestic slaves.



The Wheatleys often showed dour Phillis abilities to friends and family. Strongly influenced by her studies of the works of Alexander Pope[->5], John Milton[->6], Homer[->7], Horace[->8] and Virgi[->9]l, Phillis Wheatley began to write poetry.
Wheatley became a Boston sensation after writing a poem on the death of evangelical preacher, George Whitefield, in 1770. In 1773 thirty-nine of her poems were create in London as Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral. It was the first book to be published by a African American. In 1778, Wheatley was legally freed from the bonds of slavery by her masters will.
Three months later she marry John Peters, a free black grocer. Wheatley wrote...If you want to mature a full essay, order it on our website: Ordercustompaper.com



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