Women’s History Month
Our History Is Your History
Phillis Wheatley (May 8, 1753 – December 5, 1784)
The first Black woman to publish a book of poetry. Even though The London Magazine published several of Wheatley’s poems, they refused to see the beauty of them and instead noted that the only reason they chose to publish the poems was because of the short amount of time it took for Wheatley to grasp the English language. Thomas Jefferson also refused to give Wheatley recognition for her works. Wheatley was eventually emancipated from slavery but would die shortly after.
