Podcast
Questions and Answers
At what age did Wheatley start composing poetry?
At what age did Wheatley start composing poetry?
Who was instrumental in publishing Wheatley’s poetry collection?
Who was instrumental in publishing Wheatley’s poetry collection?
Which city recognized Wheatley's poetry by the early 1770s?
Which city recognized Wheatley's poetry by the early 1770s?
What was the name of the book that included Wheatley’s poetry?
What was the name of the book that included Wheatley’s poetry?
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Who painted Wheatley’s portrait that appeared in her published work?
Who painted Wheatley’s portrait that appeared in her published work?
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What type of artist is Scipio Moorhead described as in Wheatley's poem?
What type of artist is Scipio Moorhead described as in Wheatley's poem?
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In addition to poetry, what other artistic work by Moorhead was referenced in Wheatley's poem?
In addition to poetry, what other artistic work by Moorhead was referenced in Wheatley's poem?
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What was included as a frontispiece of Wheatley's published collection?
What was included as a frontispiece of Wheatley's published collection?
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What is unique about the construction of Africa House?
What is unique about the construction of Africa House?
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Which type of structure is commonly associated with African architecture in colonial America?
Which type of structure is commonly associated with African architecture in colonial America?
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What is the status of colonial-age slave cabins today?
What is the status of colonial-age slave cabins today?
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Where was one of the oldest surviving slave cabins located?
Where was one of the oldest surviving slave cabins located?
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Which institution received the rare cabin from the Sea Islands area?
Which institution received the rare cabin from the Sea Islands area?
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What significant action was taken with the cabin donated to the Smithsonian?
What significant action was taken with the cabin donated to the Smithsonian?
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What material made up the structure of the rare cabin?
What material made up the structure of the rare cabin?
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Why are slave cabins from the colonial era significant?
Why are slave cabins from the colonial era significant?
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What architectural elements retained by enslaved Africans in America include designs from their cultural heritage?
What architectural elements retained by enslaved Africans in America include designs from their cultural heritage?
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Which instrument is considered an American version of an African musical creation?
Which instrument is considered an American version of an African musical creation?
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What significant artwork is associated with the enslaved artist Scipio Moorhead?
What significant artwork is associated with the enslaved artist Scipio Moorhead?
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What was the primary function of chinking in log cabins?
What was the primary function of chinking in log cabins?
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What term refers to entertainers in the 19th century known for performing in blackface?
What term refers to entertainers in the 19th century known for performing in blackface?
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What year marks the earliest recorded poteaux-en-terre structures in the United States?
What year marks the earliest recorded poteaux-en-terre structures in the United States?
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Which house is mentioned as one of the only three poteaux-en-terre structures still standing in Ste. Geneviève?
Which house is mentioned as one of the only three poteaux-en-terre structures still standing in Ste. Geneviève?
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Who was the owner of the Africa House built around the same time as the Bequette-Ribault House?
Who was the owner of the Africa House built around the same time as the Bequette-Ribault House?
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What distinctive architectural feature is associated with the Bequette-Ribault House?
What distinctive architectural feature is associated with the Bequette-Ribault House?
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At what age was Marie-Thérèse Coincoin freed by her owner?
At what age was Marie-Thérèse Coincoin freed by her owner?
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What did Claude Thomas Pierre Métoyer bequeath to Marie-Thérèse Coincoin?
What did Claude Thomas Pierre Métoyer bequeath to Marie-Thérèse Coincoin?
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How many of Coincoin's siblings did Claude Thomas Pierre Métoyer free?
How many of Coincoin's siblings did Claude Thomas Pierre Métoyer free?
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Which of the following structures is not mentioned in connection with poteaux-en-terre construction?
Which of the following structures is not mentioned in connection with poteaux-en-terre construction?
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What profession did Coincoin initially earn money from?
What profession did Coincoin initially earn money from?
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How many acres did Coincoin's property increase to by the 1790s?
How many acres did Coincoin's property increase to by the 1790s?
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What role did slave ownership play in the economic status of freed blacks in the South?
What role did slave ownership play in the economic status of freed blacks in the South?
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What was built by Coincoin’s slaves presumably to her specifications?
What was built by Coincoin’s slaves presumably to her specifications?
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What type of architecture does Africa House exhibit?
What type of architecture does Africa House exhibit?
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What was the economic rationale for freed blacks owning slaves?
What was the economic rationale for freed blacks owning slaves?
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What was significant about the increase in Coincoin’s property by the early 19th century?
What was significant about the increase in Coincoin’s property by the early 19th century?
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How many slaves did some free blacks own according to U.S. census records from 1830?
How many slaves did some free blacks own according to U.S. census records from 1830?
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What does Wheatley's poem suggest about the themes she wishes to pursue?
What does Wheatley's poem suggest about the themes she wishes to pursue?
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How does the portrayal of Wheatley by Moorhead reflect her status?
How does the portrayal of Wheatley by Moorhead reflect her status?
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What artistic training did Reverend John Moorhead receive?
What artistic training did Reverend John Moorhead receive?
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What type of attire is Wheatley depicted wearing in the portrait?
What type of attire is Wheatley depicted wearing in the portrait?
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How does the poem suggest Wheatley's artistic direction?
How does the poem suggest Wheatley's artistic direction?
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What does the Boston Newsletter announcement highlight about Moorhead?
What does the Boston Newsletter announcement highlight about Moorhead?
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What aspect of the poem's imagery is directly linked to the notion of confinement and liberation?
What aspect of the poem's imagery is directly linked to the notion of confinement and liberation?
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What implication does the poem have regarding language and expression?
What implication does the poem have regarding language and expression?
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Study Notes
African Arts and Design in the Colonial Era
- African artists arrived in America in the 1500s. The earliest documented arrival was 1526 with African captives in South Carolina or Georgia.
- Over the next century, European settlers arrived, causing a massive decline in the Native American population, creating a need for a low-cost labor source.
- The transatlantic slave trade grew exponentially, displacing at least 12.5 million Africans between 1500 and 1860.
- The largest number of displaced came from West-central Africa.
- Significant loss of life occurred during the 3 to 12-week journey across the Atlantic known as the Middle Passage. Deaths resulted from murder, starvation, and diseases.
- In the United States, by the 1860 census, the African population exceeded 4 million, 90% of whom were enslaved. Enslaved people were restricted in their creative expression and were primarily limited to utilitarian art object creation.
Utilitarian Arts of Enslaved People
- Enslaved artisans created diverse utilitarian arts including handwoven baskets, ceramics, metalwork, musical instruments, clothing, textiles, wood carvings, furniture, and architecture.
- These artistic outputs were primarily considered craft rather than "high" art until the 20th century, marginalized by scholars.
- The "decorative arts" were reclassified as having aesthetic value in the 1980s sparking discussions about high vs. low art and gender/class biases.
Africanisms in the New World
- Africans brought diverse cultural traditions, including artistic practices, to the Americas.
- Despite restrictions, they retained cultural memories and skills, expressing them through utilitarian objects.
- Slave ship records indicate African origins from various West and Central African nations.
African Architectural Influences
- Enslaved people were crucial in colonial architecture, from domestic buildings to large-scale projects.
- Their presence can be seen in Spanish, French, and African-Colonial style buildings, particularly in Louisiana and South Carolina where they comprised the majority.
- African forms and traditions were adapted in building design features like raised floors and pole-support. Examples include the Bequette-Ribault House and the Africa House.
Sculptural Art Forms
- Enslaved people created pewter flatware, clay pipes, ceramics, and other useful items, highly valued by slave owners as they replaced potentially expensive goods.
- Artisans played pivotal roles in the development of the colonial iron industry.
- Enslaved people crafted items like the banjo, which has African historical roots, which influenced later American music styles.
Fine Arts in the Age of Slavery
- Colonial African Americans had limited access to formal artistic training. Despite this limitation, they still created artistic works.
- Some enslaved people were skilled artists.
- Scipio Moorhead was one example, as noted in a poem by Phillis Wheatley.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the life and works of the renowned poet Phillis Wheatley. This quiz covers her early poetry compositions, significant figures in her publication, and the artistic contributions related to her legacy. Dive into the history and influence of Wheatley's work in the context of colonial America.
