Phillis Wheatley’s Book of Poetry

The rare signed first edition of Phillis Wheatley’s book of poems (1773) is from the Lloyd W. Smith collection at Morristown National Historical Park. Wheatley had been stolen from her home in West Africa, forced into slavery, and brought to Boston. Here in Boston, she quickly mastered many subjects and began to write poetry. The publication of her poems brought Wheatley great fame in the colonies and abroad, resulting in her eventual emancipation. However, even once freed, Wheatley struggled for the remainder of her life to survive. What can we learn from Phillis Wheatley’s story of struggle and the intersectional struggle women still face today? What do we make of the complicated relationship between Phillis Wheatley’s education and her continued bondage and exploitation?