In Search of Phillis Wheatley Peters (Updated Time/Location)
A screening & discussion with filmmaker Leslie Askew
Location
Lecture Hall 1: Biological Sciences : LH 1
Date & Time
October 6, 2026, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Description
‘In Search of Phillis Wheatley Peters’ is a 35-minute short film that reveals the little-known love story of Phillis Wheatley —America’s first published Black poet—and John Peters, a free Black man she married in 1778. Drawing from the groundbreaking scholarship of historian Dr. Cornelia Dayton, the film brings new archival discoveries to life, revealing the couple’s struggles for autonomy, dignity, and survival in Revolutionary-era Boston. Featuring insights from leading scholars and poets, the film reimagines Phillis not just as a literary icon, but as a woman who chose love, partnership, and resistance against extraordinary odds.
Click HERE to watch the trailer.
This event is sponsored by the Department of English, Africana Studies, and the Dresher Center for the Humanities. All are welcome to attend and refreshments will follow the event.
