Phillis Wheatley Tea Towel

Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) was an American poet, and the first African-American female poet to have her work published. She was born in Africa, but as a child was captured and sold into slavery in North America. She was bought by John Wheatley of Boston in 1761, whose family taught her to read and write. Wheatley's book, 'Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral' was published in London in 1773, the first book ever published by an English-speaking person of African descent. The quotation on the tea towel is an excerpt from her 1772 poem on slavery and tyranny in the colonies, and reads as follows: "No more, America, in mournful strain Of wrongs, and grievance unredress’d complain, No longer shall thou dread the iron chain, Which wanton Tyranny with lawless hand Had made, and with it meant t’enslave the land."

Half Panama unbleached cotton (heavy weight, textured finish). Stitched on all four sides. Includes hanging loop. Measures approximately 19in x 27.5in. Machine wash at 110 degrees max. We recommend that before you use your tea towel for the first time you wash it at least once to soften up the material and make it more absorbent for drying dishes. Please note size can vary slightly.