A New Look at Phillis Wheatley
New commemorative stamp honoring 18th-century poet Phillis Wheatley.
On Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, the U.S. Postal Service released the 49th stamp in their “Black Heritage” series to honor 18th-century poet Phillis Wheatley. Wheatley is one of the women featured in my upcoming book, Obstinate Daughters, and researching her far-too-short life was at once inspiring and saddening.
Wheatley’s prolific writings and her interactions with luminaries of the period—George Washington, Ben Franklin, John Hancock, The Countess of Huntingdon—provided a perspective on the concept of American “liberty” in an age of enslavement.
Artist Kerry James Marshall conceived and created this unique black-and-white portrait. Antonio Alcalá served as art director and designer for the stamp. It is a new, refreshing way to envision the history-making poet, and I simply love it.
The David Zwirner gallery, one of the galleries that represents Marshall, shared his vision:
“Phillis Wheatley-Peters, died, aged 31, a free woman of color, facing forward. The image I made for this stamp sought to memorialize her, as such. That is how I chose to commemorate her legacy.”—Kerry James Marshall
