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Boston, Massachusetts
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In 1773, Phillis Wheatley published 'Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral,' making her the first African American woman to achieve this milestone.
Captured in West Africa, she was sold into slavery at the age of seven and brought to Boston in 1761.
The Wheatley family, recognizing her intelligence, provided her with an education in classical studies, which was rare for women at the time.
In 1775, she wrote a poem in honor of George Washington, who responded with a letter of thanks and an invitation to visit him.
Her work often reflected her Christian faith and the struggle for freedom, resonating with the broader themes of the American Revolution.
Following the publication of her book, the Wheatley family granted her freedom, a rare occurrence for enslaved individuals at the time.
Due to racial prejudices, she had to have her work verified by prominent Boston men to prove her authorship before it was published.
