Phillis Wheatley
Stars: 4/5
You will make quick work of Henry Louis Gates, Jr’s essay expanded to book form; the hardback is less than 100 pages. However, don’t be mislead by its brevity. It is overflowing with information on Phillis Wheatley, the tribunal gathered to validate her authorship of published poems, an assessment of the attitude of the time (late 18th century), and a more current assessment of Phillis Wheatley’s place in the African-American literary community.
Gates sets the stage with a review of the eighteen member panel selected to determine whether recent publications of poetry was indeed written by slave girl. No doubt that the panel members possessed a discerning palate when it came to poetry and/or were skeptical of the artistic and intellectual capabilities of people of color.
Regarding Wheatley, “She is on trial and so is her race.” p.6
Regarding the eighteen member panel, “What they were not, however, was an association for the advancement of colored people.” p.15
Gates continues with his analysis; providing an exposition on the impact of Wheatley’s poetry, then and now:
“And so, against the greatest odds, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral
became the first book of poetry published by a person of African descent in the English language, marking the beginning of an African-American literary tradition.” p.31
“...the overwhelming tendency in Wheatley criticism has been to upbraid her for ‘not being black enough.’” p.81
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