Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley was an influential 18th-century poet and the first published African American female writer in the United States. Born in West Africa, she was enslaved and brought to America as a child. Despite her circumstances, Wheatley's intellect and talent flourished; she became well-known for her poetry, which often expressed themes of freedom, faith, and the dignity of humanity. Her collection, "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral," published in 1773, earned her recognition and respect in both America and Europe, paving the way for future African American literature and highlighting the complexities of race and identity in her time.