The power of taking an extravagant action to change the future is truly remarkable. The 18th-century poet Phillis Wheatley, a former slave in the United States, became the first African American to publish a book of poetry. Fully aware that his life would change dramatically, he had no idea that his life would change for the better when his slave ship kissed the shores of Massachusetts. He had no idea that he would embark on the journey that would become the path for other African Americans to take to understand literature. Phillis is among the few in history who created a huge change in how the white master population of the eighteenth century viewed the slaves they owned. During the 18th century, owning a slave was seen as socially acceptable, needless to say treating a slave as if they were 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 with 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. That is why she was named after the ship. Many historians are still tired of his background. Although many claim it was in Senegal, it is very uncertain. The slave ship picked her up from the banks of the Gambia River. His portraits show his facial features. These facial features are all slim, thin lips and a small nose. These facial features can be attributed to the Fulani who resided along 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 took her there picked up many frail children from West Africa. Phillis is one of the... centers of the map... Westminster Abbey, the British Museum and the Royal Observatory. After a couple of 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. While in England he was able to meet many of the literary figures he admired. However, after learning that her owner, Susannah, was ill, she returned to the United States. Many people began to criticize how the Wheatleys could keep someone as gifted as Phillis in bondage. The Wheatleys decided it would be best to let her grow as a writer and a person if they allowed her freedom, and so they did. Susannah died on March 3, 1774. Phillis continued to live at Wheatley mansion until her marriage on April 1, 1778, to John Peters, another free slave..