A Poet‌ Forced to​ Prove Her Own ‌Genius

Phillis Wheatley’s journey to literary ⁣recognition was ⁢fraught with the disbelief of ⁢a society ⁤steeped in racism. Kidnapped ​from West Africa in 1761 and enslaved, ‌she⁤ was⁤ brought to boston and ‌educated ⁤by​ the ‍Wheatley‍ family.‍ Her poems, exploring themes of religion, freedom, and Black ⁢identity, quickly gained ⁣attention in colonial America. Though, many​ questioned whether⁣ a‍ young, enslaved Black woman could truly‌ be the author of such‌ complex verse.

But not before her words, ⁢which delved⁤ into critiques on enslavement, christian hypocrisy, and Black humanity, were put on trial. In 1772, Wheatley appeared⁤ before 18 political leaders in Boston to‌ defend her authorship. She was victorious, and an “attestation” ​was added to ​the preface of her book, Poems‍ on Various ⁤Subjects, Religious ⁤and ⁤Moral, to ‍confirm her authenticity. With that, she became the ⁤first ⁣African⁢ American – male⁢ or female – and one ​of the first American​ women to publish⁢ a book of poetry.Her fight paved the way for other Black writers to ​share‍ their voices.

Continuing a Legacy ‍of⁢ Recognition

Wheatley‌ joins a distinguished group of Black women⁢ honored with their own postage stamps. ‍Harriet Tubman was the first,commemorated in 1978. A stamp honoring lena Horne, the singer, actress, and philanthropist, was the‍ most recent, released in 2018. According to ​the ​USPS, the Phillis Wheatley Black Heritage stamp will⁢ be released on January 29, 2024, with ⁣a free, open-to-the-public ceremony in Boston.more details about‌ the ceremony are available on​ the USPS website.

The Black Heritage ⁣Stamp Series

The USPS Black Heritage series ‍began in ​1978 with Harriet Tubman and has as⁤ honored⁤ a diverse⁢ range⁤ of⁣ influential ‍African‌ Americans. The series aims to celebrate the contributions of Black individuals to American history and culture. ‌ Previous ⁣honorees include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., jackie Robinson, and⁤ Rosa Parks.