When and Where I Enter: The Lives of Black Women in Their Own Words

Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) published a book of poetry called Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral in 1773 making her the first black woman to publish poetry in colonial America. In her poems, Wheatley spoke of the injustice of slavery and her desire to be free. In the two centuries since Wheatley, black women have used the written word to tell the stories of their lives and the lives of black people. Their stories are honest, compelling, and memorable. Their stories speak of resilience, strength, and love.

In this course, we will meet Wheatley’s literary descendants: Harriet Jacobs (1813-1897), Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960), Anne Moody (1940-2015), Maya Angelou (1928-2014), and Audre Lorde (1934-1992). They will share their stories with you in: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Dust Tracks on a Road, Coming of Age in Mississippi, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and Zami: A New Spelling of My Name.

Group Leader(s): DIANE C. THOMPSON
Days: Fridays
Times: 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Start Date: 3/6/2020
End Date: 4/3/2020
Sessions: 5
Exceptions: recurring
Venue: King's Chapel Parish House
Teaching Style: Seminar
Weekly Preparation: None
Biography: Diane C. Thompson is a graduate student at Lesley University. She has an M.A. in African American Studies, a M.F.A. in creative writing, and an M.L.S. in library science. She was a writing instructor at Boston College for 13 years.
Address: 64 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108
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