Modern
Phillis Wheatley
c. 1753 – 1784 · United States
“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
Psalm 139:14 (KJV)
In the Life of the Saints
Kidnapped from West Africa and enslaved as a child, Phillis Wheatley became the first published African American poet, her verses often exploring themes of faith and freedom. Her 1773 collection, published in London, made her a celebrated literary figure even as she remained enslaved for some time afterward.
Read more on Wikipedia ↗Portrait: Scipio Moorhead (attrib.) · Public domain