Phillis Wheatley was an American hero, being
seized from home in Africa to dying while trying to support her family.
At age seven or eight, in 1760, Phillis was sold to John Wheatley in a
slave market for his wife, Susannah, for a personal slave. After
noticing that Phillis was always trying to scratch  her name in charcoal
on the outsides of the house, Susannah took the time to educate Phillis,
letting her become one of the smartest women in Boston. Phillis loved
poetry the most, though. She had her first poem published at age 17,
which was read around the world and made her famous. Stunned, Susannah
Wheatley tried to publish a book of more poems. Phillis had to stand in
the middle of a semicircle of important men and convince them that the
poetry was her own work. Somehow, she did it. Somehow, she convinced
them that slaves could have the knowledge that whites had. So they
signed a letter allowing her poems to be published into a book. Even
with this letter of proof, Boston printers would not publish the book.
Because of this, Phillis sailed to England to meet the King and get her
poems published there. While sailing, Phillis turned around at the news
of Susannah being ill. After both Susannah and John Wheatley died,
Phillis married John Peters, giving him three children that died before
she did. To support the family, Phillis was forced to work as a scullery
maid died later at age 31 in pure poverty. In this way, Phillis Wheatley
is a true American hero, and we should remember her today.
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