Phillis Wheatley
A Black Perspective
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4049448 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Eleanor Smith (0000-0001-8502-8974, corresponding author) |
| Year | 1974 |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 401 |
| Publication date | 1974-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The Journal of Negro Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0022-2984 • E-ISSN: 2167-6437 |
| Publisher | JSTOR (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.2307/2966531 |
| OpenAlex | W1973627101 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
We have examined the life and selected works of Phillis Wheatley from a black perspective. Since she is the only black woman who is highlighted in the Revolutionary Period, we believe that it is time to bring a more relevant interpretation to Phillis Wheatley-one that presents her as she really was in relationship to black people of her time and one that shows what she means to us now. When we began our study we felt that our responsibility as black scholars was to examine Phillis Wheatley realistically in terms of her contribution to the growth and development of black thought. This meant that the most significant question to which we had to address ourselves was: Did Phillis Wheatley do anything to sustain and perpetuate blackness, and give rise to Black people? From our perspective, everything that Blacks do must be done in the interest of black people; everything that Blacks observe must be analyzed from the point of view of Blacks; and, everything that Blacks experience must be examined within the framework of a black perspective, especially in a racist society. This perspective must be applied to the present and to the past if we are to redefine the experiences of black people in this country with any degree of significance. The perspective from which we have looked at the life and works of Phillis Wheatley was long overdue considering the fact that her life and works have not been interpreted, to any significant degree, in light of the enhancement of black thought. Her natural ability as a poetess has not been questioned because there is no doubt about the merit of her ability to write verse. But, neither have we glorified Phillis Wheatley or made a heroine out of her just because she was the first black woman to be published in the Revolutionary Period. We will present the facts in view of the awareness of black people
Art · Perspective (graphical) · Sociology · Visual arts · Race, History, and American Society
| Unique citing works | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,08 |
| Citation span | 1978 - 2025 (48) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |