Phillis Wheatley Honored With U.S. Postal Service Black Heritage Stamp
The U.S. Postal Service is honoring Phillis Wheatley, the first author of African descent to publish a book in the American Colonies, with the 49th stamp in its Black Heritage series, an acknowledgment that places her legacy squarely into the everyday fabric of American life.
The Phillis Wheatley Black Heritage stamp will be officially unveiled during a first-day-of-issue ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, at 11 a.m. EST, held at the historic Old South Meeting House in downtown Boston.
The event is free and open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to RSVP in advance here.
News and moments from the occasion will be shared using the hashtag #BlackHeritageStamp, extending the celebration beyond the room and into the broader cultural conversation.
Born in West Africa and brought to Boston on a slave ship, Wheatley was enslaved but educated in the Wheatley household, where her extraordinary intellectual gifts quickly became evident.
In 1773, she published Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, a collection that revealed a striking command of hymns, elegies, and narrative verse at a time when Black authorship was both rare and contested.
That same year, she was freed from slavery and went on to correspond with prominent figures of her era, including George Washington, who publicly praised her poetic talent.
Over time, Wheatley’s work earned her recognition as “the mother of African American literature.”
Before the Civil War, abolitionists pointed to her achievements as clear evidence of the intellectual brilliance of people of African descent, using her life and work to challenge the foundations of slavery itself.
Her influence continues to resonate across generations, with schools, libraries, community centers, and university buildings nationwide bearing her name.
In 2003, a statue of Wheatley was added to Boston’s Women’s Memorial, and renewed scholarly interest in her life has produced major biographies in 2011 and 2023, reflecting an ongoing effort to fully honor her resilience, brilliance, and historical impact.
The new stamp was designed by USPS art director Antonio Alcalá and features a portrait by acclaimed contemporary artist Kerry James Marshall, whose work centers Black life with depth and dignity.
Issued in panes of 20, the Phillis Wheatley stamp is a Forever stamp, meaning it will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.
