Profiles In Leadership Menu

Profiles In Leadership
View Latest Posts
View Most Popular Posts
View Subscriptions
Posting Instructions
Quick Search

Active Bloggers

Shykeria Lifleur Shykeria Lifleur
Other College... class of
Reginald Culpepper Reginald Culpepper
Clark Atlanta University class of 1998
Yazmín Müller Yazmín Müller
class of
HBCU CONNECT HBCU CONNECT
Central State University class of 1995
rickey johnson rickey johnson
Other College... class of
Beverly Johnson Beverly Johnson
class of
How May I Help You NC How May I Help You NC
Bellarmine University class of 2021
LaMarr Blackmon LaMarr Blackmon
Cal St Univ, Long Beach class of 1992

Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper on February 03, 2009

Born c. 1760 possibly in Senegal, Africa. Wheatley was sold in slavery to the John Wheatley family of Boston, Massachusetts in 1761. The family educated her, even teaching her Latin and Greek, and by the age of 13 she was composing poems so sophisticated that many people charged she could not have written them.



In 1778, she was sent to London with the Wheatley's son, where she was received in society and published her first volume of poems. After returning to Boston, she was freed, married, and had three children, none of whom survived her. A collection of her poetry and prose, Memoirs and Poems of Phillis Wheatley, was printed in 1834. Although her poems are now regarded as generally derivative in their Neoclassical manner, they were often cited by those pointing out that African-Americans needed only to be educated in order to become the equal of their fellow Americans.
If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email!
More From This Author
Truist Partners with TMCF to Advance Leadership and Career Readiness
The Memorial Day Getaway's Returns for Its 18th Annual Celebration?
Bethune-Cookman University To Host Inauguration For Dr. Albert D. Mosley On April 14
The J.M. Smucker Co. Announces the Election of Katie Williams to Chief Marketing Officer
Florida A&M Announces Tradition-Rich, High-Profile 2026 Football Schedule
Nation’s Oldest HBCU Football Rivalry Returns in 2026 with 102nd Turkey Day Classic
Latest Profiles In Leadership
Black United States, Marshal releases power autobiography

Black United States, Marshal releases power autobiography

Off My Neck is the inspiring and motivational story of a farm boy from Algoma, Mississippi, who decided that a plow and two mules were just not enough. Migrating from Mississip to get the Yoke of seco ...more
Robert Moore • 120 Views • October 8th, 2025
👋 Hello HBCU Family!

👋 Hello HBCU Family!

My name is Danielle T. Duncan, proud Benedict College Class of 2008 (Mass Communication). I’m excited to connect here with fellow alumni and professionals. I bring over 5 years of experience in fin ...more
Danielle Duncan • 218 Views • August 29th, 2025
Illinois Auto Dealer Named the 2024 Ally Sees Her Award Winner for Her Leadership in the Auto Industry and Her Commitment to

Illinois Auto Dealer Named the 2024 Ally Sees Her Award Winner for Her Leadership in the Auto Industry and Her Commitment to

Illinois Auto Dealer Named the 2024 Ally Sees Her Award Winner for Her Leadership in the Auto Industry and Her Commitment to Community Karen Sutton-Ford, dealer principal at Sutton Ford in Matteson ...more
Cindy Kamerad • 586 Views • August 27th, 2024
Illinois Auto Dealer Named the 2024 Ally Sees Her Award Winner for Her Leadership in the Auto Industry and Her Commitment to

Illinois Auto Dealer Named the 2024 Ally Sees Her Award Winner for Her Leadership in the Auto Industry and Her Commitment to

Illinois Auto Dealer Named the 2024 Ally Sees Her Award Winner for Her Leadership in the Auto Industry and Her Commitment to Community Karen Sutton-Ford, dealer principal at Sutton Ford in Matteson ...more
Cindy Kamerad • 287 Views • August 27th, 2024
Illinois Auto Dealer Named the 2024 Ally Sees Her Award Winner for Her Leadership in the Auto Industry and Her Commitment to

Illinois Auto Dealer Named the 2024 Ally Sees Her Award Winner for Her Leadership in the Auto Industry and Her Commitment to

Illinois Auto Dealer Named the 2024 Ally Sees Her Award Winner for Her Leadership in the Auto Industry and Her Commitment to Community Karen Sutton-Ford, dealer principal at Sutton Ford in Matteson ...more
Cindy Kamerad • 613 Views • August 27th, 2024
Popular Profiles In Leadership
Mary Ellen Pleasant

Mary Ellen Pleasant

Mary Ellen Pleasant, referred to as the "mother of civil rights" in 1860s California, is a figure that isn't well-known in modern Black history, but was a famous abolitionist, entrepreneur, and social ...more
Jon C. • 46,151 Views • February 11th, 2008
Granville T. Woods

Granville T. Woods

Born in Columbus, Ohio, in April 23, 1856, Granville T. Woods dedicated his life to developing a variety of inventions relating to the railroad industry. To some he was known as the "Black Edison, bot ...more
Marwan Fateen • 36,423 Views • February 11th, 2008
Marcus Garvey

Marcus Garvey

Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr., National Hero of Jamaica, was a publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, Black nationalist, Pan-Africanist, and orator. Marcus Garvey was founder of the Universal Negro Improvem ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 29,503 Views • February 23rd, 2009
Mansa Musa, King of Mali (1312-1337)

Mansa Musa, King of Mali (1312-1337)

Mansa Kankan Musa When Mansa Musa came to power, Mali already had firm control of the trade routes to the southern lands of gold and the northern lands of salt. Now Musa brought the lands of the ...more
Marwan Fateen • 25,912 Views • February 11th, 2008
Charlayne Hunter-Gault

Charlayne Hunter-Gault

Charlayne Hunter-Gault is a woman of distinguised “ firsts”. She holds a place in Georgia civil rights history as one of the first two African -American students admitted to the University of Georgi ...more
Jon C. • 13,714 Views • February 1st, 2008
Please Give Us a Like on Facebook!