Final Draft Civic Season 2024 Guidebook (3) - Flipbook - Page 10
MEET YOUR guide
Phillis Wheatley
I am Phillis Wheatley, born in 1753 in West Africa. I was enslaved and
brought to Boston at a young age, where I would become a symbol of
resilience as a pioneering African-American poet, leaving a lasting mark on
American literature and history.
Through my poems, including 8To His Excellency General Washington9 and
8On Being Brought from Africa to America,9 I gave voice to the silenced,
challenging the notions of race, faith, freedom, human dignity and identity
in the Northeast. I penned verses that echoed the struggles and
aspirations of enslaved Africans in the colonies, including my own.
As you embark on your exploration of my legacy, you'll discover how
literature can illuminate the path towards freedom and equality in our
communities.
6
