The Phillis Wheatley Story

The center is named after Phillis Wheatley, the eighteenth century slave who became the first African American to publish a book (poetry). She left behind concrete evidence of what can be achieved through character, ambition, courage and humility. Her life reminds us that in spite of what's happening on the outside, there's something within that can help you prevail. This philosophy guides every program at Phyllis Wheatley Community Center.

Phillis Wheatley was an African girl born in Senegal (Gambia in Phillis' day) in 1753. At age seven, she came to America on a slave ship named Phillis (this is believed to be how she came upon her name). On July 11, 1761 she was auctioned to Susannah Wheatley, a Boston tailor's wife, for three bundles of tobacco. Susannah was impressed by Phillis's "humble and modest demeanor," "interesting features" and obvious brightness. Phillis was given the job of special maid to the Wheatley's daughter Mary who was three years older than her.

Phillis was taught to read and write and soon revealed herself as something of a child prodigy. She had been in America less than 16 months when she was able to read the bible fluently and had started learning Latin. At 13 she began writing poems; one of her earliest is "On being brought from Africa to America." Her talents earned her the attention of the literati of the day, many of whom brought books to her. She had frequent visits from people of social standing. Selina Hastings, a Countess of Huntingdon, financed the publishing of her first book of poetry "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral" in 1773. Once published, her book was reviewed at least nine times by British newspapers and sparked outrage that this talented artist remained a slave. This, perhaps combined with the Somerset judgement of 1772, which was widely interpreted to mean any slave stepping onto the English shore was thereafter considered free, contributed to her being released from slavery. Technically, Phillis received manumission when she arrived in London on June 17, 1773.

Phillis wrote a poem in honor of George Washington and mailed it to the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. She received an enthusiastic reply and an invitation to visit. The poem was printed several times as an instrument for the patriot cause, and Phillis visited Washington at his Cambridge headquarters.

She married John Peters, a free black man, on April 1, 1778. She gave birth to two children, both of whom died by 1783. On December 5, 1784, she died in Boston of complications during the birth of her third child, who died with her.