Phillis Wheatley, the first African-American woman to publish a book, died at the age of 31 on Feb. 28, 1784. (717 hits)

This Day in Black History: Feb. 28, 1784

Phillis Wheatley, the first African-American woman to publish a book, died at the age of 31 on Feb. 28, 1784.

Phillis Wheatley only lived to be 31, but she broke color barriers during her short life as the first African-American woman to be published. She passed away on Feb. 28, 1784.

Wheatley was born in Gambia, West Africa, in 1753 and was seized and transported to Boston at the age of seven. When she arrived she was sold to John and Susanna Wheatley.

As a child the Wheatleys taught her to read and write and she eventually published her first collection of poems in a book called Poems on Various Subjects in 1773. She also traveled to London to promote her work and George Washington met with her after reading as well.

READ MORE: Phillis Wheatley, the first African-American woman to publish a book, died at the age of 31 on Feb. 28, 1784 https://www.bet.com/article/o2fpb1/this-da... Posted By: Dea. Ron Gray Sr.
Tuesday, February 28th 2023 at 9:45AM
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