The Postal Service dedicated its stamp honoring poet Phillis Wheatley in a Boston ceremony on Jan. 29.
Known as “the mother of African American literature,” Wheatley charmed readers with her poems and offered subtle commentary on a complex nation. She was the first author of African descent in the American Colonies to publish a book and is the 49th honoree in the Black Heritage stamp series.
“She not only challenged prevailing assumptions about race, intellect and artistic ability during the Colonial period, she sought to remind the young nation that the ‘Goddess of Liberty’ should belong to everyone, regardless of the color of their skin,” dedicating official Chenise LeDoux, vice president for the Postal Service’s Southern Area, said.
Wheatley (1753-1784) was born in West Africa and was brought to Boston on a slave ship. Although she was enslaved, she received an education in the household of merchant John Wheatley. By age 11, she had already begun to compose her own poems. Her 1773 collection, “Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral,” showcased her mastery of forms ranging from hymns and elegies to philosophical and narrative verse.
Wheatley was freed from slavery in 1773, and her later poems showed growing support for the American Revolution. Her legacy endures as schools, libraries, community centers and university buildings across the country bear her name.
“Wheatley’s relevance continues today as we reflect on the 250 years since our nation’s founding,” LeDoux said.
Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using an existing portrait by Kerry James Marshall.
The Forever stamp is available in panes of 20 at Post Offices and at usps.com.
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