What Made Phillis Wheatley an Unlikely Poet: The Remarkable Story of America's First Published African American Writer
Phillis Wheatley remains one of the most extraordinary figures in American literary history, not merely for her poetic accomplishments but for the seemingly insurmountable obstacles she overcame to achieve them. Because of that, born into slavery in West Africa around 1753 and transported to colonial America, Wheatley defied every expectation of her era to become the first African American—and only the third American woman—to publish a book of poetry. Her journey from the hold of a slave ship to the pages of published verse represents one of the most remarkable transformations in literary history, making her one of the most unlikely poets America has ever produced Which is the point..
The Odds Against Her: Understanding the Context of Phillis Wheatley's Life
To appreciate what made Wheatley such an unlikely poet, one must understand the brutal reality of slavery in colonial America. Enslaved Africans were considered property rather than people, denied education, and systematically stripped of their cultural identities. The prevailing belief among white Americans in the 18th century was that Black people were intellectually inferior—incapable of producing sophisticated literature or demonstrating the refined sensibilities associated with poetry That's the part that actually makes a difference..
When Wheatley arrived in Boston in 1761, she was approximately seven or eight years old, having been captured in Africa and sold through the slave trade. John Wheatley, a wealthy Boston merchant, purchased her as a personal servant for his wife, Susanna Wheatley. The irony of her surname—she took the name of her enslavers—would later become a point of contention among critics who questioned whether a truly free Black voice could emerge from such circumstances Easy to understand, harder to ignore..
The statistical probability of an enslaved African child in colonial America becoming a published poet was essentially zero. Consider this: there were no schools for enslaved people, no literary traditions available to them, and no market that would welcome their work. Yet against all these odds, Phillis Wheatley would not only learn to read and write but would master the most sophisticated literary forms of her time.
The Wheatley Family and the Education of an Unexpected Genius
What made Wheatley's transformation from enslaved child to accomplished poet possible was an unusual set of circumstances surrounding her enslavement. Susanna Wheatley recognized something exceptional in the young girl and took it upon herself to educate her. This decision was extraordinary for its time—teaching an enslaved person to read was rare, and teaching them to write poetry was virtually unheard of Still holds up..
Phillis proved to be an exceptionally gifted student. The Wheatley family encouraged her literary pursuits, providing her with access to their extensive library and allowing her time to study and write. She learned English with remarkable speed and soon demonstrated a natural aptitude for literature. This support system, while complicated by the inherent power dynamics of slavery, proved essential to her development as a poet.
By the age of 12, Wheatley was already composing poetry. On top of that, her early works demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of classical forms, religious imagery, and literary conventions that would have impressed any educated person of her era—white or Black. The Wheatleys recognized the significance of her abilities and began showing her work to prominent Bostonians, eventually leading to her first published poem in 1767.
Mastering the Unlikely: Wheatley's Classical Education
Perhaps nothing makes Wheatley a more unlikely poet than the content of her poetry itself. Now, rather than writing about her experiences as an enslaved person or the injustice of her circumstances, Wheatley chose to write in the highest traditions of 18th-century English literature. Her poems employed classical references, heroic couplets, and the formal structures of Augustan poetry—styles typically associated with educated English gentlemen, not enslaved Africans.
She wrote extensively about Greek and Roman mythology, Christian theology, and the great philosophical questions of her time. That's why her poem "On the Death of the Rev. Plus, mr. George Whitefield" gained particular attention, demonstrating her ability to engage with prominent religious figures and contemporary events in a sophisticated literary voice Simple, but easy to overlook..
This choice to write within established European literary traditions rather than creating a distinctly African American voice has been the subject of considerable scholarly debate. Some critics have argued that her work represents assimilation into white literary culture, while others see it as a strategic choice—using the master's tools to gain a platform in a society that would never have accepted overtly African or anti-slavery poetry from an enslaved person.
Breaking Barriers: Publication and Recognition
In 1773, Wheatley achieved what no African American had done before—she published a book of poetry. Because of that, "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral" was printed in London, as American publishers were reluctant to associate themselves with her work. The volume contained 39 poems and was prefaced by testimonials from prominent white Americans, including John Adams, attesting to her authorship and literary abilities.
The publication caused a sensation on both sides of the Atlantic. In real terms, wheatley became the first African American to publish a book of poetry, and only the third American woman to do so (after Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor's wife). Her work was reviewed in major British periodicals, and she gained admirers among the literary elite in both America and England.
She corresponded with notable figures of her time, including Oliver Goldsmith and the Countess of Huntingdon. When she visited England in 1773 to oversee the publication of her book, she was received as a literary celebrity—a remarkable achievement for an enslaved woman from colonial America Not complicated — just consistent..
The Complexity of Her Position
Understanding what made Wheatley an unlikely poet requires grappling with the profound contradictions of her situation. She was an enslaved person who wrote poetry celebrating the very society that enslaved her. She composed elegies for prominent white colonists and never directly addressed the injustice of her own bondage in her published work.
Some scholars have interpreted her silence on slavery as a survival strategy—writing openly about the horrors of slavery would have been dangerous and would likely have ended her literary career. Others have criticized her for what appears to be acceptance of her circumstances Simple, but easy to overlook..
What is clear is that Wheatley operated within severe constraints. As an enslaved person, she had no control over her own life, her earnings, or the publication of her work. Still, the Wheatley family managed her literary affairs and benefited financially from her publications. Whether she was a passive participant in this arrangement or a strategic navigator of impossible circumstances remains a matter of historical debate.
Legacy and Significance
Despite the controversies surrounding her life and work, Phillis Wheatley's significance in American literary history is undeniable. She proved—beyond any reasonable doubt—that the assumption of Black intellectual inferiority was false. Her mastery of complex literary forms demonstrated that talent and intelligence transcend the artificial boundaries of race that society constructs Not complicated — just consistent..
This is the bit that actually matters in practice.
Wheatley opened doors that would later be walked through by other African American writers. She showed that it was possible to achieve literary excellence even under the most oppressive circumstances. Her survival and success, however qualified, represented a powerful challenge to the ideology of slavery That's the part that actually makes a difference..
This is where a lot of people lose the thread.
The very fact that Phillis Wheatley became a poet makes her one of the most unlikely figures in American literary history. From the hold of a slave ship to the pages of published verse, her journey represents the triumph of human spirit over crushing oppression, of intellectual achievement against overwhelming adversity, and of art emerging from the most unlikely of circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Phillis Wheatley considered an unlikely poet?
Phillis Wheatley is considered an unlikely poet because she was an enslaved African woman in colonial America, a time when enslaved people were denied education and considered intellectually inferior by the prevailing society. The odds of an enslaved person—particularly a woman of African descent—becoming a published poet in the 18th century were virtually nonexistent Simple as that..
Was Phillis Wheatley the first African American to publish a book?
Yes, Phillis Wheatley was the first African American to publish a book of poetry. Her 1773 collection "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral" made her the first African American to publish a book in what would become the United States.
Why did Wheatley publish her book in London instead of America?
American publishers were reluctant to associate themselves with Wheatley's work due to the controversial nature of an enslaved person achieving literary success. She published in London, where there was greater interest in her unique story and less concern about the implications for American slavery.
Did Wheatley write about slavery in her poetry?
Wheatley's published poetry does not directly address the injustice of slavery. But scholars debate whether this was a strategic choice to ensure publication and safety, or an acceptance of her circumstances. Some of her later letters and a proposed preface to her collected works suggest she had more critical views that she did not express in her published poetry.
How did Wheatley receive her education?
Susanna Wheatley, the wife of her enslaver, recognized Wheatley's intellectual abilities and personally educated her. Think about it: this was extremely unusual for the time, as enslaved people were typically denied education. Wheatley demonstrated remarkable talent from a young age and was writing poetry by age 12.
Conclusion
Phillis Wheatley's story is a testament to the power of human resilience and intellectual capability in the face of profound oppression. She became a poet when the entire weight of American society—its laws, its customs, its ideology—conspired to make sure she could not. She achieved publication when powerful interests worked to silence or suppress voices like hers. She gained recognition in a world that denied her humanity.
What made Phillis Wheatley an unlikely poet was not any lack of talent or ability—it was everything about the world into which she was born. She was an enslaved African woman in a society built on racial subjugation, denied the most basic rights of humanity, and belonging to a people whom white Americans considered incapable of intellectual achievement. By every measure of her era, she should have remained invisible—another unnamed enslaved person whose life was consumed by bondage.
Instead, she became the first African American to publish a book of poetry, a literary figure recognized on two continents, and a living contradiction to the ideology of racial inferiority. In practice, her poetry may not have spoken directly of her own suffering, but her very existence as a poet spoke volumes. In becoming Phillis Wheatley, she achieved something far more significant than literary fame—she proved that the human spirit cannot be enslaved, that intelligence transcends color, and that art can emerge from the most unlikely places.
