Legacy and honors thumb|Phyllis Wheatley YWCA in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C. With the 1773 publication of Wheatley's book Poems on Various Subjects, she "became the most famous African on the face of the earth."Gates, The Trials of Phillis Wheatley, p. 33. Voltaire stated in a letter to a friend that Wheatley had proved that black people could write poetry. John Paul Jones asked a fellow officer to deliver some of his personal writings to "Phillis the African favorite of the Nine (muses) and Apollo." She was honored by many of America's founding fathers, including George Washington, who wrote to her (after she wrote a poem in his honor) that "the style and manner [of your poetry] exhibit a striking proof of your great poetical Talents.""George Washington to Phillis Wheatley, February 28, 1776" . The George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741–1799.
Legacy and honors thumb|Phyllis Wheatley YWCA in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington DC With the 1773 publication of Wheatley's book Poems on Various Subjects she "became the most famous African on the face of the earth"Gates The Trials of Phillis Wheatley p 33 Voltaire stated in a letter to a friend that Wheatley had proved that black people could write poetry John Paul Jones asked a fellow officer to deliver some of his personal writings to "Phillis the African favorite of the Nine (muses) and Apollo" She was honored by many of America's founding fathers including George Washington who wrote to her (after she wrote a poem in his honor) that "the style and manner [of your poetry] exhibit a striking proof of your great poetical Talents""George Washington to Phillis Wheatley February 28 1776"  The George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress 1741–1799