Talk:Phillis Wheatley

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More information about this article... The following comments have been left for this page: If Wheatley was born in 1753, then how was her first poem titled "On the death of Rev. Mr. George Whitefield, 1770", and how was she 14 years of age when she wrote this? (edit)

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[edit] Correction Needed

Contrary to the first sentence, Wheatley was not the first African American woman to publish poetry in the United States. As another Wikipedia article recognizes, that was Lucy Terry. The introduction needs rewriting. Jlockard 08:12, 21 August 2006 (UTC)

Wheatley was in fact the first Black woman to publish a collection of poetry in the United States. Lucy Terry Prince was the first recognized Black author of a work of literature in the United States. The difference being that Prince's "Bars Fight" was not published until 1855, where until that time it was preserved as an oral work and was generally known locally around the town of Deerfield. Wheatley by contrast had her work read widely in the then Anerican colonies and countries abroad because they had been published. The introduction therefore should stand. Ladydayelle 14:12, 21 August 2006 (UTC)

Based on what you said, Wheatley was still the first to be "published." That's what the article says.--Alabamaboy 15:08, 21 August 2006 (UTC)

I say that Phillis Wheatly is the FIRST BLACK WOMAN WIRTER IN AMERICA to have a book publised(it say so in my history book)

[edit] Her Real Name

I lived in Senegal for quite some time. I am wondering, what was her real name? It could have been Fatima, Ouley, Aby... It also strikes me that she should be considered the first African American poet... when in fact she was not an African American, but a transplanted Senegalese. Senegal has produced many great intellects, pre and post-colonialisation. So that Wheatley (or whatever her real name was) was able to adapt western knowledge and build upon it, isn't really that surprising, or even note worthy.Gdxilla 18:44, 12 November 2006 (UTC)

Based on what you said about Wheatley not being an African-American, who knows she might of wanted to be called an African-American and not a "transplanted Senegalese" as you say! So you(and everyone else) can't make assumptions of what/who she was.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 71.56.237.66 (talk • contribs) 18:40, 24 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] George Washington

The poem Wheatley wrote in 1770 that began her fame was a poem to George Whitefield after his death, not a poetic tribute to George Washington.

In 1770 Wheatley wrote a poetic tribute to George Washington that received widespread acclaim.

She later wrote a poem in 1776 to Washington, but this was not the one that began her widespread acclaim as previously stated in this article. Correction made. Steviedpeele 20:36, 28 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] References and External Links

A large portion of the "References" section seems to consist of external links instead. Indeed, there aren't any footnote-style references at all on the page, which is what I usually see "References" listed as. I'm moving the links that are clearly not "references" into a section titled External Links. If anybody wants to go in and figure out more thoroughly which is which, please do. TheStripèdOne 17:07, 28 September 2007 (UTC)

In fact what I have ended up doing is just moving all the web pages into external links and leaving the book cites in references. TheStripèdOne 17:11, 28 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Phyllis Wheatley's Manumission

The "Phyllis Wheatley" page says she was manumitted on 18 October 1773, but the "OCtober 18" page says she was manumitted in 1775. Which is correct? Esaons 14:48, 18 October 2007 (UTC)