Phillis Wheatley's 'Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral' is published in London, the first book of poetry by an African American.
At a Glance
- Date
- 1 September 1773
- Location
- London, England
- Key people
- Phillis Wheatley
- Category
- Arts & Literature
- Source
- Poems on Various Subjects (1773) · Library of Congress
What It Meant Then
It refuted contemporary claims that Black people were incapable of literary art.
What It Means Now
Wheatley is celebrated as the founder of African American literature.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Phillis Wheatley Publishes Her Poems.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/phillis-wheatley-publishes-her-poems/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Phillis Wheatley Publishes Her Poems. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/phillis-wheatley-publishes-her-poems/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Phillis Wheatley Publishes Her Poems.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/phillis-wheatley-publishes-her-poems/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.