The Age of Phillis Review

By Nic Daniels

Hello audacious readers!

Hope you had a chance to celebrate the fantastic women in your life before the April showers come in. Last month, we got hot and spicy with the rom com Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert. This month, we’re covering a legacy of American history with semi-biographical poetry volume, The Age of Phillis by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers.

Before Phillis Wheatley was “the African genius,” she was young child growing up in Gambia with her parents. She would spend eight years there with her family and village before being enslaved and taken to Boston. There, she learned to read and write in English, deciding to write poetry as she favored the writings of Homer, Virgil, and other classic literary works. She would later become the first African to be published in America.

Jeffers takes readers on a journey through the short but dynamic life of Phillis Wheatley through her complicated relationship with the Wheatley family, who act as both her enslaver and patrons, “lost letters” to friends Samson Occom and Obour Jordan, exploration of her marriage with freeman John Peters, and other black voices that are drowned out in historical conversations. Raw and heartbreaking, we get a glimpse of who Phillis Wheatley was and, just maybe, who she could have been.

 So, I’m not going to lie, this was a hard book to read because it’s so intimate with such a harsh reality. The narrative of enslaved people is nothing new to me, but Jeffers delivers beyond the blatant horrors of slavery. Instead, she showcases the dichotomies that were present throughout her life: her relationship with Christianity through the Wheatley’s; being recognized as a prodigy but only while enslaved; possibly being saved from some worse realities of slavery but not given freedom; being provided “family” but not being able to build her own—the list goes on.

Jeffers also attempts to revise or rather fill in more of Phillis’ history. In her “Looking for Miss Phillis” chapter, she describes the research process behind the poetry. She includes Phillis’ parents, which were usually cut from the story as well as her discovery of a often referenced memoir of Phillis Wheatley’s life by Margaretta Odell may actually be quite inaccurate. I’m inclined to agree, if for no other reason that the woman was not directly linked to Phillis herself. Had the memoir been written by Phillis’ friend or husband or a known confidant then there would be more ground for truth in regards to her experiences.

But even with the best of intentions, what would a 18th century white woman with friends who were comfortable enough to own a slave understand about Phillis’ life? How could she have spoken with any objectivity or true acknowledgement of her humanity? She would have no context for it. So, I appreciate Jeffers going back and giving us a glimpse into all the things that Phillis probably couldn’t say. She gave Phillis friends, allies, a family, love, a few moments of solace…she gave her back to us.

Phillis’ life may not have been the one she deserved but it is one that should be acknowledged. At the end of the day, she was the start of black people in this country having a space in published work. She was a glimpse of all that could be when given the chance—or by force with a fake, but necessary smile.

I hope you enjoyed the Age of Phillis. There’s a lot more I want to say about this incredible read—I’m literally scratching the surface of this one—but I’ll save that for the IG live interview with Honorée Jeffers tonight! We feel super excited to discuss the book, her writing process, and more with her. So, make sure to check that out and, as always, don’t forget to read audaciously!