| Where |
Cinema Salem
1 E India Square Mall, Salem, MA 01970 (Witch City Mall)
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|---|---|
| When |
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Sep 21, 2026
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The Salem State University English and History Departments present a screening of In Search of Phillis Wheatley Peters, a 35-minute short film that reveals the little-known love story of Phillis Wheatley—America’s first published Black poet—and John Peters, a free Black man she married in 1778. Drawing from the groundbreaking scholarship of historian Dr. Cornelia Dayton, the film brings new archival discoveries to life, revealing the couple’s struggles for autonomy, dignity, and survival in Revolutionary-era Boston. Featuring insights from leading scholars and poets, the film reimagines Phillis not just as a literary icon, but as a woman who chose love, partnership, and resistance against extraordinary odds.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the filmmaker, Leslie Askew.
This event is free and open to the public.
Contact
Accessibility
For access and accommodation information, visit our page on access or email access@salemstate.edu.