Phillis Wheatley was the first African-American to publish a book of poetry in 1773. Born in West Africa, she was sold into slavery at age seven, and bought by a wealthy Massachusetts family who taught her to read and write. Her extraordinary literary gifts led to the publication of her "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral," and to her eventual emancipation by her owners. Although some of the poems demonstrate an apparent acceptance of the racist values of the white slave-owning classes (which viewed Africans as savage), Wheatley's considerable talents simultaneously contradicted these stereotypes.

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To Maecenas On Virtue To the University of Cambridge, in New England To the King's Most Excellent Majesty On being brought from Africa On the Rev. Dr. Sewell On the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield On the Death of a young Lady of five Years of Age On the Death of a young Gentleman To a Lady on the Death of her Husband Goliath of Gath Thoughts on the Works of Providence To a Lady on the Death of three Relations To a Clergyman on the Death of his Lady An Hymn to the Morning An Hymn to the Evening On Isaiah lxiii. 1 8 On Recollection On Imagination A Funeral Poem on the Death of an Infant aged twelve Months To Captain H. D. of the 65th Regiment To the Right Hon. William, Earl of Dartmouth Ode to Neptune To a Lady on her coming to North America with her Son, for the Recovery of her Health To a Lady on her remarkable Preservation in a Hurricane in North Carolina To a Lady and her Children on the Death of the Lady's Brother and Sister, and a Child of the Name of Avis, aged one Year On the Death of Dr... Continue reading book >>