Phillis Wheatley

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Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley was the first African American, and only second American woman, to publish a book of poetry. Born around Gambia and captured by slave traders as a child, Wheatley’s book, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral was published in 1773, while she was still enslaved. 

1773

Givens Collection of African American Literature

University of Minnesota Libraries



First Women & Innovators
Phillis Wheatley