Phillis Wheatley was the first African American and first African enslaved in America to publish a book of poems in 1773. As the first published African American writer, her ability to write eloquently in English challenged the racist beliefs of the time that blacks were incapable of intellectual thought or artistic expression, beliefs which helped support the institution of slavery. In 1772, Wheatley underwent a trial where she had to prove her authorship of poems to 18 influential men, as her accomplishments questioned whether blacks were intellectually capable of literature.

1. Phillis
Wheatley

2.  First African American writer to publish a book
 First African American to receive international
reputation as a writer
 Born in West Africa and enslaved in
Massachusetts
Biographical Details

3.  Her ability to write in English shocked
audiences
 Even most forward thinking Europeans and
Americans assumed that black Africans and
African Americans were incapable of
producing art or literature
 This attitude towards blacks helped support
slavery as an institution
Significance

4.  In 1772, Wheatley was put on trial and had to
prove she was a poet.
 18 of the most influential men of the
Massachusetts Colony assembled to verify the
authorship of her poems.
 The question was much bigger than Wheatley:
Was a black person capable of producing
literature?
The Trial