Stamped from the Beginning Lesson Plan

How do you feel about Phillis Wheatley's audition and the circumstances surrounding it? Is her audition an example of assimilationist racism or segregationist racism?

Students will likely feel uncomfortable with the fact that Phillis had to perform her intellect in front of a group of elite white men in order to prove that she wrote her groundbreaking poetry. Some students may even express outrage at this fact. They should point out the inherent racism in this act. The general assumption was that Phillis was likely too uncultured and unintelligent to write her poetry. This is an example of assimilationist racism because as John Wheatley shows, with the help, guidance, and...