Black Women Who Wrote Themselves Into History

INTRODUCTION

Hey Family, it’s King Kurus, the Black History Buff. Today, we’re taking a look at Black Women Who Wrote Themselves Into History—incredible women who wielded the pen like a weapon and etched their names into our hearts long before the world was ready to hear them. From the first published Black woman poet to the pioneers of political speeches, these women defied the odds and demanded their voices be heard.

But here’s the thing—how many of us actually know their names?

That changes today.

Let’s go back to the 18th and 19th centuries, when a Black woman’s voice wasn’t just unheard in the Western world—it was considered radical and dangerous.

PART 1: Phillis Wheatley – The Enslaved Poet Who Confronted the Founding Fathers

Imagine this—an enslaved girl, barely a teenager, scribbling poems by candlelight. Phillis Wheatley, stolen from West Africa and enslaved in Boston, became the first African American woman to publish a book of poetry in 1773.

Her work wasn’t just poetry—it was rebellion in verse. Her words challenged white America’s hypocrisy. The very people who preached liberty were the ones holding her in chains. And yet, Phillis wrote her way into their world, impressing figures like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

Her collection, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, proved that a Black woman could think, create, and contribute to the literary world—even in chains. But did America celebrate her? Not quite. She died in poverty, forgotten by the very society that once applauded her talent.

**let’s reverse this by celebrating her in the same way we celebrate and revere poets like William Wordsworth or Emily Dickinson. **

PART 2: Maria W. Stewart – The First Black Woman to Speak Publicly on Politics

Fast forward to the early 1800s. Enslavement is still the law of the land, and women—especially Black women—are expected to stay silent. But Maria W. Stewart refused.

She was the first known Black woman to speak publicly on political and women’s rights issues in 1831. And she did it before a mixed audience of men and women, something unheard of at the time. Her speeches were fiery, unapologetic, and called out both white oppression and Black men who failed to uplift Black women.

But Stewart paid the price. She was ridiculed and forced into silence, leaving public life after just a few years. Yet, her words survived. Her speeches laid the foundation for women like Sojourner Truth and Ida B. Wells.

Stewart’s message was clear: Black women will not be invisible.

PART 3: Frances Ellen Watkins Harper – The Poet, Abolitionist, and Suffragist Who Took No Prisoners

Now, let’s talk about Frances Ellen Watkins Harper—a poet, orator, and abolitionist who didn’t just write about justice, she fought for it.

Her poem Bury Me in a Free Land became a rallying cry against slavery. She refused to be a silent bystander, using her platform to push for the end of enslavement, women’s suffrage, and racial equality. She even shared the stage with Frederick Douglass, proving that Black women weren’t just supporting the movement—they were leading it.

And here’s the mic-drop moment—in 1866, she stood before the National Women’s Rights Convention and told an audience full of white feminists: “We are all bound up together.” She called them out for ignoring the struggles of Black women, laying the groundwork for intersectional feminism—long before the term even existed.

CONCLUSION: Why This Still Matters

These women wrote themselves into history when the world wanted them erased. Their words challenged the hypocrisy of America’s so-called democracy, and their voices still echo today. But are we listening?

Next time you hear about American literature, remember Phillis Wheatley. When we talk about the fight for women’s rights, remember Maria Stewart. And when we celebrate poetry as activism, remember Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

These women were the blueprint.

If you loved this episode, drop a comment, share this story, and let’s keep their voices alive. And if you want ad-free episodes and bonus content, join the Black History Village on Patreon.

Until next time—stay blessed, stay informed, and keep making history.

Blessings, KK.