After reading the piece that Phillis Wheately it really struck something in my mind. It made me start to think of all the troubles she had to go through as well as how lucky she was at the same time for having "masters" who were generous enough to recognized the knowledge she portrayed. The most interesting thing I found on Phillis after doing some research was that she was the first African-American woman to ever write and have a book published. After reading this I had a great sense of reason as to why I'm in this class Which is to gain knowledge of the women from all cultures who surround all of us with marvelous pieces of writing and the show us as females the courage and strength it takes to reach your goals. It really did show to me that, even if it's not writing, but whatever it is you want to do as a woman, that with all the struggles that come along with it takes much courage and strength and overcoming the obstacles can be done. Phillis Wheatley for instance was sold at the age of 7 or 8 years old to a family whom she did not know, didn't know what was going to happen to her, and brought to a country that she was very unfamiliar with. With all this, look at where she is today, she is printed and being known and taught all around the world in class rooms just like this one, our women writers class. That is why this class is here today.
Even though it's late into the semester it truly was a final eye opening piece and made me realize that I can connect with this class. This specific author not necessarily her piece, but the simple background and bibliography was so encouraging and eye opening for sure.
As stated earlier, Phillis was brought to the Wheatley family in Boston where she was bought as a slave, but was taught to read and write.
After beginning to do more research I saw that Phillis was not supposed to be on the ship in which she arrived on. Finding on the website http://www.gardenofpraise.com/ibdwheatley.htm : it states that the captain of the ship she was on said that he didn't want any children on his ship. However, she was "lucky" enough to get aboard. When I say lucky I'm saying that because had she been on a more tightly packed ship, then she may not have been able to have the opportunities that she had seeing as Mrs. Sussana Wheatley chose her off the ship named "Phillis" which is where she received her name from. I found one of the only pictures of the boat that she arrived on that I could find to share with all of you.
Blogger Comment: I agree with you Ashley. In one of my other English classes we talked about her and her life is remarkable. You know the quote “Everything happens for a reason” well; I think that fits her perfectly. Like you said, she was not allowed on the ship, but in fact she did not get in trouble or thrown overboard. Yes, she may have been a slave but, she got placed with the right family that taught her. She had the opportunity of a life time, a chance to be educated and that was a very slim opportunity for African American’s back then. We often take our education for granted, well, our free lives for granted and she helps us realize what we really have.
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