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Phillis Wheatley became
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Ex Libris: The New York Public Library

Phillis Wheatley became the first African-American woman poet to be published in this...

Phillis Wheatley became the first African-American woman poet to be published in this country in 1770

Full Transcript

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Phillis Wheatley became
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the first African-American woman poet
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to be published in this country in 1770.
Duration
9 seconds
Views
18
Timestamp in Movie
02:54:56
Uploaded
Oct 29, 2025
Genres
documentary
Production
Zipporah Films,JustFilms / Ford Foundation,PBS

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Movie Summary

A look within the walls of the New York Public Library.
But she was born in West Africa - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:14
But she was born in West Africa
She arrived in Boston on the 11th of July 1761 - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:14
She arrived in Boston on the 11th of July 1761
When the Wheatleys died, - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:07
When the Wheatleys died,
Peters was imprisoned for debt - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:12
Peters was imprisoned for debt
So her poems are her only legacy. - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:06
So her poems are her only legacy.
Schomburg has Arthur Schomburg's own copy of an elegiac poem - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:12
Schomburg has Arthur Schomburg's own copy of an elegiac...
And the personal chaplain of Selina Hastings, - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:09
And the personal chaplain of Selina Hastings,
Wheatley's Whitefield elegy brought her into national fame, - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:09
Wheatley's Whitefield elegy brought her into national...
And her reputation was reinforced - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:17
And her reputation was reinforced
So what we have here on display - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:05
So what we have here on display
As I say, his copy of the first poem Wheatley published, - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:12
As I say, his copy of the first poem Wheatley published,
His London magazine with the poem "Recollection," - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:12
His London magazine with the poem "Recollection,"
That book, which was published the year Wheatley died - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:13
That book, which was published the year Wheatley died
In a famous poem about her enslavement, Wheatley wrote, - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:32
In a famous poem about her enslavement, Wheatley wrote,
In 1776 Wheatley wrote a letter and a poem - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:28
In 1776 Wheatley wrote a letter and a poem
Unless there is other business before the board, - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:09
Unless there is other business before the board,
Yes, that's, I always forget the smile part. - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:05
Yes, that's, I always forget the smile part.
Eyes wide open, smiles. - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:05
Eyes wide open, smiles.
You've talked about reparations, - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:18
You've talked about reparations,
That's... that's... Either these are explorations - Ex Libris: The New York Public Library 00:08
That's... that's... Either these are explorations