Before the groundbreaking poetry of famous African-American poets like Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, and Nikki Giovanni, there was Phillis Wheatley — the first published African-American poet in the United States.
Wheatley was taken from her home country of Senegal/Gambia, West Africa at the age of seven to become a slave for the Wheatley family in Boston. She published the first edition of her collection of poetry, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral in 1773. This was the first volume of poetry by an African-American to be published in modern times. Her work continues to be admired by writers and scholars. Wheatley’s work helped to break down a barrier for African-American’s in literature.
Daisy Century, Ed.D., continues to honor Wheatley’s legacy through her character interpretation of the famed poet, and through her interpretations of many other prolific women through her character interpretation of the famed poet. The women Century portrays have left a lasting impact on not only the African-American community, but on the world. Besides Wheatley, her interpretations include Harriet Tubman, Bessie Coleman, Sojourner Truth, Madam CJ Walker, and Mary Fields. Century gave Re-enact a glimpse of the life and work of Wheatley through a private performance and interview.
Cover photo by: Elliot Williams