The power of taking extravagant action to change the future is truly remarkable. 18th-century poet Phillis Wheatley, a former slave in the United States, became the first African American to publish a collection of poems. Fully aware that her life was about to change dramatically, she had no idea that her life would change for the better as her slave ship kissed the shores of Massachusetts. She had no idea that she would embark on a journey that would become the path that other African Americans could take to understand literature. Phillis is one of the few in history who created considerable change in the way the 18th century population of white masters viewed the slaves they owned. In the 18th century, owning a slave was considered socially acceptable, so it goes without saying that treating a slave as if it were. being part of the family instead of property was not socially acceptable. A slave was there to work, not to get a good education. This was not the case for Phillis Wheatley. Phillis, at the age of eight, was kidnapped from her home in Senegal and brought to Boston on the slave ship "The Phillis" in 1761. This is why she was named after the ship. Many historians are still weary of its past. Although many claim she was in Senegal, this is very uncertain. The slave ship picked her up on the banks of the Gambia River. His portraits show his facial features. These facial features are all thin, thin lips and a small nose. These facial features can be attributed to the Fulani who resided on the banks of the Gambia River at the time. His age was determined to be eight years old by looking at his front teeth. The slave ship that brought her picked up many fragile children from West Africa. Phillis being one of...... middle of paper ...... Westminster Abbey, the British Museum and the Royal Observatory. After a few months, Phillis received three hundred copies of his book which contained a collection of twenty-eight poems, “Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral.” The books were sold and distributed throughout the New England colonies. During her stay in England, she was able to meet many literary figures whom she admired. However, after learning that her master, Susannah, was ill, she returned to the United States. Many people began to criticize how the Wheatleys could keep someone as gifted as Phillis enslaved. The Wheatleys decided it would be best to let her grow as a writer and as a person if they gave her freedom, and they did. Susannah died on March 3, 1774. Phillis continued to live in the Wheatley Manor until her marriage on April 1, 1778 to John Peters, another free slave..