The Write History: Black History's First Published Author, Phillis Wheatley

Happy February and Happy #BlackHistoryMonth! A question that came across my mind recently was, "who was the first Black person to publish a book?" In my research, Google revealed that Phillis Wheatley was the answer to that question.

Phillis Wheatley, a poet (1753-1784) published her book Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral in 1773. This was 3 years before America's independence. In addition to being the first African American to publish a book, Wheatley was also the first to achieve international recognition as a writer. Her first book was published in London despite being declined by Boston publishers.

I remember hearing about Phillis Wheatley briefly in school but never truly knew about her life and circumstances surrounding her death at age 31(developed pneumonia and died after giving birth to a daughter who later passed the same day as her.) Although her life was short-lived, her legacy lives on through her writings. One example of a poem on slavery is "On being brought from Africa to America":

Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, 

Taught my benighted soul to understand 

That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too: 

Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.

Some view our sable race with scornful eye,

"Their colour is a diabolic dye."

Remember,  Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,

May be refin'd, and join th'angelic train.

Here is an excerpt video on her life and journey: 

I close with two quotes from Wheatley: 

"Wisdom is higher than a fool can reach."

"In every human Breast, God has implanted a Principle, which we call Love of Freedom; it is impatient of Oppression, and pants for Deliverance."

In His Service,

Lequvia Ousley