Phillis Wheatley - Icon Profile | Alexandria
Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753-1784), the first published African-American female poet and one of the most compelling figures of early American literature, embodies both the paradoxes of colonial America and the transformative power of literary genius. Kidnapped from West Africa at approximately seven years of age and sold into slavery in Boston, Wheatley would emerge as a cultural phenomenon that challenged prevailing assumptions about race, gender, and intellectual capability in the 18th century.
First appearing in colonial Boston's intellectual circles around 1765, Wheatley gained unprecedented attention for her remarkable aptitude for poetry and classical learning. The young enslaved girl, purchased by merchant John Wheatley and his wife Susanna, mastered English, Latin, and Greek within an astonishingly brief period, producing her first poem at age 13. Her earliest known published work, "On Messrs. Hussey and Coffin," appeared in the Newport Mercury in 1767, marking the beginning of a literary career that would fundamentally challenge the racial prejudices of her era.
Wheatley's poetry, deeply influenced by Neoclassical traditions yet imbued with subtle critiques of slavery and colonial power structures, attracted attention from prominent figures including George Washington, who praised her work and invited her to his headquarters in 1776. Her groundbreaking collection, "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral" (1773), required verification of its authenticity by 18 prominent Boston men, underscoring both the extraordinary nature of her achievement and the period's deeply ingrained skepticism about African intellectual capability.
The legacy of Phillis Wheatley continues to evolve and inspire scholarly debate. While earlier interpretations often emphasized her apparent embrace of Christianity and Western literary forms, contemporary scholars have uncovered layers of subversive commentary and resistance in her work, particularly in poems like "On Being Brought from Africa to America." Her life and work raise enduring questions about identity, agency, and the power of art to transcend social boundaries. Modern readings of Wheatley's poetry reveal an intricate navigation of race, religion, and politics that speaks to current discussions about voice, representation, and the complexity of African-American literary traditions. The mystery of her inner thoughts and true feelings about her circumstances continues to intrigue scholars and readers alike, making her not just a historical figure but a persistent source of intellectual and artistic inspiration.