Phillis Wheatley was a slave from Senegal in West Africa who went on to have several poems published. She was purchased by the Wheatly family, from Boston, in 1761. She was taught to read and write by her owners. As a result, she had several poems published by 1776. This was a major achievement for a young slave girl who lived in this period. I find it very interesting that, even though she was sold into slavery, she dedicated one of her poems to George Washington.