From Slavery to Scholar: The Unexpected Journey

Even though I was a slave, my “family” or masters treated me like one of their own children. I was born on May 8, 1753 in Senegal, West Africa. I really had no relationship with my parents. When I was eight I was kidnapped and put on a slave ship that was on its way to Boston. On these ships, we were packed in like sardines. Soon after I arrived in Boston John Wheatley bought me as a servant for his wife, Susanna. Since he owned many slaves I was somewhat scared because of the hard work that he might have me doing. Being a servant for the Wheatleys was actually great even though I still didn’t have my freedom.

Mary and Nathaniel Wheatley, the Wheatley's son and daughter, tutored me in academics. I learned to read and write, not only English but, Greek and Latin as well. I also started reading difficult passages in the bible. The made me seem as if I was a human dictionary. This sparked the writing of my religious poetry. I was doing all this at the age of twelve. When I was fourteen I wrote my first poem, “To the University of Cambridge, In England”. Because of my

Many members of the British Society supported me and spread the word about my talents. This allowed me to be published for the first time. In 1774, I sent a letter to Reverend Samson Occom agreeing with his idea that all slaves should have natural born rights in America. Along with being able to share my poetry, I was able to show my thoughts and comments with others. I sent a copy of my poem entitled, “To His Excellency, George Washington” to George Washington himself. A year later he invited me to come visit him at his headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I met with George Washington in March and then in April Thomas Paine re-published my poem in the Pennsylvania Gazette. So, going to London with Nathaniel was a very good experience and really opened me up to new