Question

In at least one hundred words, explain what evidence there is to support the assertion that Wheatley was the "mother" of the African American literary tradition.

Answer 1

Phillis Wheatley is known to be the mother of Africa-American literature because of her iconic poems about the experiences of many African-Americans in the American shores. Her iconic poems range from the cultural tradition, Christian sermons and racial discrimination amongst the African-Americans in the United States.

Her first work was about a letter to her fellow servant in 1776. Her letter was sold to an auction for $ 253,000.  She was brought to the American shores when she was 7 or 8 years old through the Middle Passage. She was encouraged by her owner, Susanna and John Wheatley to study.  Because of this, she became fond of writing literature. Later on, her poems were publshed in the local newspaper.