Was Phillis Wheatley Ever Free?
Today in Labor History: African American Poet Phillis Wheatley Freed from Slavery. on October 18, 1775, Phillis Wheatley – the First African-American Poet and...
Today in labor history: African American poet Phillis Wheatley freed from slavery. On October 18, 1775, Phillis Wheatley – the first African-American poet and the first to publish a book – was freed from slavery.
Did Wheatley gain her freedom?
After her return to Boston, Wheatley's life changed significantly. While ultimately freed from slavery, she was devastated by the deaths of several Wheatley family members, including Susanna (d. 1774) and John (d. 1778).
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How was Phillis Wheatley freed?
Wheatley was emancipated by her masters shortly after the publication of her book. They soon died, and she married poor grocer John Peters, lost three children, and died in poverty and obscurity at the age of 31.
Sarah Jenkins is a veteran tech journalist with over 12 years of experience covering artificial intelligence, mobile innovations, and digital ethics. Her insights have appeared in leading technology publications worldwide.
