The first African-American woman to publish a book.
- Phillis Wheatley was born in 1753 in Senegal
- She was sold into slavery at age 7 and taken to America.
- She was purchased by John Wheatley in Boston.
- The Wheatley family taught her to read and write.
- At age 12 she started writing poetry.
- Many of her poems were dedicated to famous people.
- She received widespread acclaim, especially in London.
- Thomas Paine published her poems. Voltaire liked them too.
- She got to meet George Washington after she wrote about him.
- She died in poverty at the age of 31 in Boston.
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