A Portrait of
Phyllis Wheatley
by Carolyn

Phillis Wheatley was born around 1753. She was the second woman to publish a book and the first African American poet. Phillis Wheatley was captured from Africa and sold to a chain gang. Sussana Wheatley saw the little scrawny girl dressed in a rug. She felt sorry for her so she bought her. She looked back at the boat. It's name was "Phillis" so she named the little slave girl Phillis. Phillis was not treated like most slaves for the Wheatley's were kind to their slaves. Unlike the other slaves Phillis was treated like part of the family. She had her own room in the attic with a desk and  candles. She learned to read from Mary Sussana's daughter and learned to write by herself. Phillis Wheatley was a wonderful poet and person. She died on December 5, 1784.

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