In Search of Phillis Wheatley Peters Documentary and Discussion

‘In Search of Phillis Wheatley Peters’ is a 35-minute short film produced by Askew Pictures 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.

A discussion with the filmmakers will follow the documentary screening.