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[[image:Phillis Wheatley.jpg|thumb|160px|right|Phillis Wheatley]]
The first prominent African American author, poet [[Phillis Wheatley]] (1753–1784), published her book ''Poems on Various Subjects'' in 1773, three years before American independence. Born in [[Senegal]], [[Africa]], Wheatley was captured and sold into [[slavery]] at the age of 7. Brought to America, she was owned by a Boston merchant. Even though she initially spoke no English, by the time she was sixteen she had mastered the language. Her poetry was praised by many of the leading figures of the [[American Revolution]], including [[George Washington]], who personally thanked her for a poem she wrote in his honor. Despite this, many white people found it hard to believe that a Black woman could be so intelligent as to write poetry. As a result, Wheatley had to defend herself in court by proving she actually wrote her own poetry. Some critics cite Wheatley's successful defense as the first
Another early African American writer is [[William Wells Brown]] (1814–1884). Brown was a prominent [[abolitionist]], [[lecturer]], [[novelist]], [[playwright]], and [[historian]]. Born into slavery in the [[Southern United States]], Brown escaped to the North, where he worked for abolitionist causes and was a prolific writer. Brown wrote what is considered to be the first novel by an African American, ''Clotel; or, The President's Daughter'' (1853). The novel is based on what was at that time considered to be a rumor about [[Thomas Jefferson]] fathering a daughter with his slave, [[Sally Hemings]].
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