Phillis Wheatley went on to become the first African American published poet. She is also considered the originator of the African American literary tradition. The odds of any of THAT happening were perhaps even greater.

When Phillis (named for the slave ship that carried her to Boston) first arrived in Massachusetts, she did not speak English. But there was something about her that won over her new mistress, Susanna Wheatley, and as Phillis Wheatley’s biographer, William Henry Robinson writes, Susanna “doted” on her. Susanna had her daughter, Mary, teach Phillis to read and write, which Phillis took to with extraordinary ability and talent.

Phillis began her writing career in 1765, at about the age of twelve, with poems and elegies that included several on the Rev. Joseph Sewall, the minister of Boston’s Old South Meeting House and the author of a famous anti-slavery tract. Many of Phillis’s poems and open letters were written to or about prominent people including a tribute to George Washington who, in turn, invited Phillis to visit his headquarters in Cambridge. Other poems displayed her knowledge of the scriptures, ancient history, and literature.

With the Wheatley family’s backing, Phillis’s book of poetry, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, appeared in 1773. It was published in London, as no Boston printer would publish the book. In the book’s opening pages, readers found a letter signed by John Wheatley, Phillis’s “master,” and a dozen or so prominent men of Boston who testified that Phillis had, in fact, written the poems herself. Phillis went to London with the Wheatleys’ son during the book’s production, and met dozens of England’s most prominent citizens.

Susanna Wheatley died soon after the book’s publication, and Phillis was given her freedom. Soon after,  Phillis published an open letter to her friend the Native American Christian minister Rev. Samuel Occom, in which she denounced the “pious” Christian ministers who supported slavery. She quoted scripture to prove her points, and her letter appeared in numerous newspapers.

Phillis Wheatley married a free African American named John Peters and they had three children, all of whom died young. Phillis’s health steadily declined, as did her marriage, although she was able to publish a few more poems. She attempted to arouse interest in a second book of poetry but, perhaps because of the failing post-war economy, she was unable to secure support. Phillis Wheatley died in Boston at the age of 30 or 31, and lies buried in an unmarked grave with her third child.

Despite this sad ending to an otherwise remarkable life story and literary career, Phillis Wheatley remains an enduring figure in American history. Here are three pieces of advice I think she would offer you, personally and professionally:

• Believe in yourself

It is unclear what Phillis’s religious life in Africa may have involved, but she embraced Christianity when she lived in Boston and even became a member of Old South Meeting House. Her choice of religion aside, what comes through loud and clear in her writing and her actions is a deep faith in God, in God’s love for her, and, by extension, faith in herself. Because of it, she acted in ways that were completely unexpected of her, especially as an African American woman in Boston at that time, and she was successful.

Phillis was also surrounded by people who believed in her, and that’s a good lesson for all of us. There will always be detractors; there will always be moments when we are filled with self-doubt. What or who can you add to your life to turn this around?

• Have courage

Phillis Wheatley used her art to help others. Each poem or open letter was an act of courage for a young “slave woman” in Boston.  (I use quotes because human beings really can’t “own” another.) The act of publishing a book of poetry was an act of courage. Again, I am convinced that Phillis’s faith fueled her courage, as well as the sure knowledge that she was doing what she was supposed to – and that included trying to sway public opinion against slavery.

It’s easy to play it safe, but what’s the point? Do you really want to look back on your life and say, “Gee I wish I had done that.” No, you don’t! What’s the worst that will happen? You might fail. So what? Try again. Someone might criticize you. So what? It doesn’t matter what others think; it only matters what you think. It might cost you money. So what? There’s more to be had. NOT acting with courage and faith isn’t a good way to go through life!

• Seek and accept support to achieve your goal

Boston printers wouldn’t publish her book, so Phillis and the Wheatleys turned to a London publisher. People didn’t believe Phillis had written her book, so Phillis and the Wheatleys secured the testimony of Boston’s leading (male) citizens. As a young “slave woman” in Boston, Phillis needed the Wheatleys’ backing to publish her book. The point is, where there were obstacles, she found the support she needed to achieve her goal of publishing and having her voice be heard.

The same holds true today. What obstacles lie in the way between you and your goals? Money? Time? Access? There’s always another way and sometimes you need the support of others. The American ideal of "going it alone" is rubbish. We all have people in our lives who have helped us. It's more important to get things done that it is to tough it out and struggle alone. Good grief. Life is too short. Ask for and graciously receive help!

We are all here to be of service. Of that I am 100% convinced. The questions of How? and For whom? are very personal, and that's up to you.

But I'd like to throw something into the mix.

In what way are you being of service by knowing and acting on your business history? Here are some thoughts that I HOPE will inspire you (and rather than publish a separate article, I'm putting it all here).

· You will expand the story of your community's history.

Why? Because your business is an integral part of the communities you serve. No business or organization is an island. In my experience, every business/organization history I've done has led to new information about local or national history. Truly. Every single one.

· You will expand the history of your industry.

Every business history I've done has added to the knowledge of the industry I was investigating. As a historian, I will tell you that the "big picture" is often revealed through the lens of the "small picture," the individual or individual business. Again, no one else will do your history but you, and you can add so much to the larger story when you do.

· You will reveal and tell untold stories.

You might not understand how important this is, but it is. You have no idea what you will find until you start digging, and no one will care more about your history than you. No one else will do it but you. You could very well uncover incredibly inspiring stories about entrepreneurs, inventors, women, veterans, activists - who knows? There are so many stories yet to be told. Be part of it! Do it!

· You can inspire young people.

Depending on the stories your history reveals, you could provide some inspiring role models for young people in your community to follow. Kids especially resonate to stories about overcoming obstacles to succeed. They want to know HOW. They want to know that they can do it too. And because you value history enough to do this work, you are sending a message to them as a leader in your community that history matters. THAT matters.

· You will be in service to your business or organization.

This work reveals all kinds of content for your PR and marketing. Your history is unique to you, and you will find great stuff to tell your story. You will attract media attention and new customers. Your existing customers will love you even more. Your reputation will skyrocket.

· You will make your team proud.

We all want to do work that makes us proud, and I promise you that doing and celebrating your history will make your team proud. One of my clients is celebrating their 100th anniversary right now, and their CEO just did a Powerpoint of their history at an all-staff meeting. They have an incredibly honorable history, and a founder's story you could use to make a movie. Right now, my client's staff is feeling very proud, very cocky, and enjoying the heck out of where they work. Do you think that works in my client's favor???

· You will be honoring descendants and founders.

I really believe that this matters. No matter how old or young your company is, honoring people who went before you, living or dead, comes back to you in spades. You will receive the benefits from having done it, and they will be your biggest fans and promoters.

· You will pump much-needed resources into the historical community.

When you do your business history, you will be in touch with and, hopefully, forming strategic partnerships with the repositories of historical information - libraries, historical societies, and archives - you contact. They need you, and you need them. Yes, they need your check when you pay for photographs about your business history, for example, but I ask you to think about what they can do for you and what you can do for them as PARTNERS. Doing a business history is a terrific opportunity for wins on both sides and for forming long-term, mutually beneficial relationships.

· You will be sending a loud, clear, public message that History matters.

It does, it does, it does. And by doing your history, and letting "everyone" know about it, you will be providing leadership on the subject. Please do it! You don't need a Ph.D. to be involved in history, just the desire.

Inspired? Terrific!

Please be in touch and let me know what you decide to do!

For you personally, for your business or organization, there is nothing more fulfilling and inspiring than being in a place of gratitude - you probably know this; coaches of all kinds talk about this.

I don't know about you, but I refuse to let the "doom and gloom" that's out there impair my creativity and optimism. I refuse! Instead, I focus on what I am grateful for - and that includes having "history" as an active part of my life.

I HOPE it gets you to thinking about the historical people, places, or events that are part of your life - or could be - and what you might do about it. This is not about dwelling on the past, but on making the present richer.

A quick story

I had been asked to lead a service at the Universalist church in Essex, Massachusetts, during National Women's History Month (March), because one of the sermons I give is about Judith Sargent Murray, an early Universalist, and what we can learn from her. I conferred with the minister, the Rev. Art McDonald, ahead of time, because he planned to be there and we had to decide who would do what.

He asked me about "saying something" for the children, and I immediately begged off. I have zero experience in this area, and working with kids has always been something I've avoided (although that's rapidly changing). So Art, being the intuitive minister that he is, realized he needed to do something to help me in this area. So we got to that part of the service, and here's what he did.

He called the kids up to the front of the church, having them sit on the floor, and he held up one of my books about Judith Sargent Murray.

"Bonnie wrote this book," he told them. They were impressed.

"Bonnie is going to talk about this woman a little bit later. Her name is Judith Sargent Murray, and she's been dead for, like, 200 years, but Bonnie has been reading about, and studying, and writing about this woman for about 20 years. Isn't that really WEIRD?"

The kids didn't know how to respond - was he insulting me? Were my feelings hurt?

Art continued: "No, really, isn't that weird? To spend all of that time on this dead woman? Why do you think she does that?"

Again, no answers - the kids were uncomfortable, and didn't know WHY he was saying such things.

Then Art says, "Bonnie, would you like to respond to that question?"

Now...I've done a lot of public speaking, including fielding questions. I've also worked with reporters in my PR work - point being, I'm used to having God knows what thrown at me and holding my own.

But this was different, starting with the fact that it was an intimate setting and there were all these kids waiting for me to say something intelligent.

So, 1/3rd of my brain is thinking, I am going to kill him. Another 1/3rd starts talking because I need to say something. And the final 1/3rd is trying to figure out what my answer really is.

The 1/3rd that's talking starts saying things like, "Well, because of Judith Sargent Murray, I could self-publish my own book. Because of Judith Sargent Murray, I can vote. Because of Judith Sargent Murray, I can pretty well do whatever I want to..." and things like that. Yes, over simplified, but you get it.

Finally, I stopped myself, and said, "You know, I could go on and on, but at the end of the day, it's just my way of saying thank you to her."

As simple as that - saying thank you. I had never quite articulated it that simply, and that clearly before.

That was the real answer.

Back to NOW

Embracing history is not about living IN the past, but living WITH the past. I thank God for Lucy Stone every time I vote, to use another example. I want to help preserve land that is thousands of years old because it sustains me today. Ditto historic homes, artifacts, letters....All of it is part of our collective present.

I do believe that being "in gratitude" at all times is the best place to be, and that includes gratitude to all of the people who got us here and whose spirits are still with us.

I HOPE there is a historical person, place, event, or project that is meaningful to you, and if you don't have one right now, you easily could be. Please find one! The connection will be meaningful for you personally, as well as your business or organization.

Please let me share them with you.

But before I do, let me just state that the most beautiful words in the English language are "safe on American soil." It seemed to take forever for Mark to come home. The military kept changing dates, times, etc. Mark's wife kept calling me with updates, and I remember losing all patience one day and saying, "Just tell me when he is safely on American soil!" The day she could was a memorable day.

In the interest of Mark's privacy, I will not go into a whole lot of detail. I am more interested in passing along to you what I have learned, so that you can embrace it and pass it along to others in your life.

For one thing, I wish I had known then what I know now. For example, I know now that every time Mark's wife had to cancel getting together with me because she was expecting him to Skype, I know now that she was always thinking, "This could be the last time." While I was mildly annoyed to have plans cancelled, she was waiting to see her beloved husband's face and hear his voice, potentially for the last time. At the time, I was so wrapped up in my own stuff I wasn't paying attention. Shame on me. But not any more.

There's so much more that can be said, but here are three specific things you can do for someone who is in active service and for his/her family. For simplification, I'm going to use a male pronoun.

1) Be there. Even if his wife says she is fine, know that she's not. And don't ask how you can help, because, again, she will say that everything is fine and she doesn't need anything. Figure something out. Send flowers. Take her out for lunch. Take the kids for the afternoon. Whatever makes sense, but just be there - and make sure she knows that you are. Don't be a pest, just be there.

2)  When he comes home, thank him for his service - and not just verbally. Send a card, write a letter. Put it in writing. In fact, do this before he comes home. You have no idea how much it means to people serving overseas to be thanked by all of us who are the beneficiaries of what they are doing.

In Mark's case, because he was a reservist, he was not part of a unit that went overseas. One day, he got a call. His lovely wife drove him to Logan Airport, he boarded a plane, went to Army training for two months, then Kuwait, then Afghanistan where he could easily have been killed at any moment. When his time was up, he boarded another plane, flew back to Logan, his lovely wife picked him up, and he was back home. No ceremony, no acknowledgment, no thank you.

Even for men and women who did not have this particular experience and who were part of a unit, they still need to be thanked.

3)When he comes home, know that he is not the same person. Be patient, loving, open, and give him the space and time he needs to figure out how to "be." The fact is, he will never, ever be the same. You can talk to any veteran who has seen combat, and the memories are as fresh as if it happened yesterday. Even World War II guys. It's like yesterday.

So...Be there, say thank you, be patient and loving. That's what I learned, and what I wanted to share with you.

I am more grateful than I can say that my friend Mark came home. So is his wife, who adores him, and with good reason.

Sometimes, even a year later, when I'm in Mark's presence, I am overcome by how lucky we are to have him here and how easily he could not be.

If you know a military family, please think about what I have said.

And if you don't please think about supporting Operation Troop Support . Here in Massachusetts, we have a very active and effective branch in Danvers . Find a way!

And thank you for "listening."  

Her key achievements include:
• First woman in America to graduate from college (Oberlin)

• First woman in America to keep her own name after getting married

• First woman in New England to be cremated (Forest Hills Cemetery, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts)

• Influential leader of the women’s rights and woman suffrage movements

• Influential leader of the abolitionist movement

• Writer and publisher of numerous pamphlets and convention proceedings

• Editor of a national newspaper (The Woman’s Journal)

• Early and effective female public speaker

• Mother of Alice Stone Blackwell, another pioneer in the woman suffrage movement and newspaper editor

What lessons can we learn from Lucy Stone – lessons we can apply to our cause, our business, or organization?

Believe in yourself
Lucy Stone didn’t let her father’s low opinion of her stop her from pursuing an education. Luckily, she had other people in her life who believed in her, and she had faith in herself and in her Creator. She also had a sense of the work she would do in the world because of her exposure, in writing and in person, to other abolitionists and women’s rights advocates.

Her faith in herself guided her throughout her life. At college, despite the fact that women did not speak in public at the time, she studied oratory (public speaking) and formed a club to practice. She started publishing controversial essays as a college student. She took to the stage to speak up for women’s rights and against slavery. She kept her own name when she married. She started a national newspaper. She sided with Frederick Douglass over African American men’s right to vote, even though it meant splitting apart the women’s movement. Decision after decision, although oftentimes controversial, seemed to come almost with ease because of her faith in herself and clarity of purpose.

Educate yourself
Whatever it is that you doing in your cause, business, or organization, learn everything you can about it. Learn who the other players are, what’s been done in the past and what needs to be done, where you can plug in, and where you will be effective with your particular talents. Read books, find websites – you need to transform yourself into the expert on your subject. And this work is never done. You should always be learning and growing as you step up more and more into your work.

Lucy Stone never stopped studying, attending events, or discussing ideas with friends, colleagues, or influencers by letter or in person. She was a lifelong student of her two causes because so much was at stake.

Determine the right tactics
If you’re attempting to sway public opinion on something you care about (including attracting members or customers), you need to figure out who you need to reach, where those people are, and how to reach them.  In the communications profession we would say: Audience, Message, Method. All three need to work in harmony for it to work.

In Lucy Stone’s case, she spoke at public events (her own or other people’s); met privately with people, including detractors; published and distributed pamphlets and the proceedings of women’s rights conventions; wrote newspaper articles; started her own newspaper; and prepared petitions to legislatures. She also showed up at other people’s events to make her presence known, thereby publicly endorsing other women’s rights advocates and abolitionists.

She also organized. While the first women’s rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848, the attendees were mostly local. Lucy Stone helped organize the first national women’s rights convention in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1850, where multiple train lines converged, overnight accommodations were available, the media would show up, and politicians would pay attention. She knew there was strength in numbers, and that a public showing of those numbers would attract others to the cause – and display their seriousness of purpose to opinion leaders and the public.

When the women’s movement split over the 14^th Amendment in 1869, Lucy Stone’s group worked for woman suffrage state-by-state, and embraced working class members and issues as well as those from the middle class. The competing group, headed by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, focused on a federal Constitutional amendment and its middle class membership. The state approach is what worked many years later.

Network, and hang out with like-minded people
Lucy Stone’s network of friends and colleagues was long and impressive. They gave each other strength, ideas, and support. They learned from each other, and raised each other up. Some of them mentored her, while she mentored others. They were in a constant state of learning and doing.

These are the kinds of people you want to be around! Please don’t waste one more second of time with people who don’t believe in you, your business, organization, or cause, or who lower you down in any way. These people are draining away your precious time and energy. You need a “tribe” that will support you!

Be prepared to make controversial decisions and stand by them
When Lucy Stone married Henry Blackwell, she refused to change her last name, thus becoming the first woman in America to keep her own name. (Thereafter, women who followed her lead were called “Lucy Stoners.”) She and Henry also read a statement protesting the disturbingly sexist marriage laws at the time. Their vows, and their protest, were published widely. During their years together, if Lucy Stone had to sign a legal document or register at a hotel, she had to write, “Lucy Stone, married to Henry Blackwell,” for her signature to be legal.

The year after she was married, Lucy refused to pay property taxes. She and Henry had kept her house in her name, and she wanted to make the point that this was an appalling example of “taxation without representation.” If she couldn’t vote, why should she pay taxes?

After the Civil War, when the 14^th Amendment to the Constitution was proposed giving the right to vote to all “male citizens, ” including African American men, the women’s movement split in two. The group headed by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton refused to support the amendment because it did not include women. Lucy Stone, Julia Ward Howe, Frederick Douglass, and others believed that it was literally a case of life or death to secure the right to vote for African American. They also believed their efforts would pave the way for woman suffrage. Stone’s decision set woman suffrage back by many years, but this was the decision she had to make.

Have courage
Know that you might be ridiculed, criticized, and possibly even threatened. Decide that you don’t care. Protect yourself, but carry on.

In Lucy Stone’s case, during her talks, (some) men would hiss at her, throw eggs, threaten to tear apart the stage, or hurl hymnbooks. (Why hymn books? Because she often spoke in churches, where she used her knowledge of Greek and Hebrew to translate the Bible differently – pointing out that the male ministers had gotten things wrong when it came to women’s supposed inferiority. Hence, the flying hymn books!)

And yes, it takes huge courage to take on the male ministers. Lucy had been raised in the Congregational church, but was outraged that women weren’t accepted as voting members. The church also condemned the abolitionist Grimké sisters, Sarah and Angelina, whose work Lucy so admired. Eventually the Congregational church expelled Lucy for her views, and she joined the much more accepting Unitarian church.

In 1870, Lucy Stone raised money to start a suffrage newspaper called The Woman’s Journal. It was the year after the split in the woman suffrage movement, and Stone wanted to make sure her group’s views were in the public sphere. Yes, she had spoken in public and published articles and pamphlets, but starting a national newspaper and becoming its editor (after Mary Rice Livermore edited it for two years) was quite a courageous endeavor!

Know that you will inspire others to join you, and be prepared to give them something to do
Some people who sign on to your cause or organiztion will already know how they want to help. They will be self-starters and leaders in their own right, and you will become colleagues. But others may very well contact you to ask, “How can I help?” You need to have answers ready.

These days, anyone with a computer and online access can help you with your newsletter or website. They can forward your news releases or email blasts to their own networks. I’m sure you have a long list of tasks you should delegate to allow you to focus on big picture thinking and activities!

Don’t let people in your life get in the way
Women are forever being asked to put aside their own aspirations in favor of a husband, their children, or a sick relative. Lucy Stone really had to be persuaded to get married, and it took Henry Blackwell a long time to persuade her to say “yes.” Why? Because almost all of the married women she knew had to put their husbands in first place and set aside their own work. In addition, at the time, marriage laws still favored the husband in all things – property rights, conjugal rights, control over finances, control over the children, you name it. For a woman in the 19^th century, getting married was a risky proposition. Luckily, Henry supported her work 100%.

As for children, of course their needs come first, and I feel very strongly about that. But that does not mean martyring yourself by putting your work on hold until whenever. In Lucy Stone’s case, she did suspend her public speaking and traveling when her daughter, Alice Stone Blackwell, was born in 1857 (after an infant son had died). But she still found ways to remain active in women’s rights, and resumed her work fulltime several years later when her services were needed after the Civil War to help pass the 14^th  Amendment.

(It should also be noted that Alice Stone Blackwell grew up to become a leader in the suffragist movement, the editor of her mother’s newspaper, The Woman’s Journal, the successful peacemaker between the two hostile sides of the woman suffrage movement, a witness to the passage of woman suffrage in 1920, and the author of a biography of her mother. Clearly, Lucy made the right decision and was a wonderful mother and mentor!)

These are all your personal decisions, of course, given your own situation, including when it comes to the care of sick relatives or tolerating dysfunctional friendships. It’s just that historically, women have always been expected to put themselves in second place.

It is NOT selfish to put yourself in first place, even though women are told it is. In fact, as the life and business coach Baeth Davis says, “You cannot be of service to anyone or anything if you are not in service to yourself first.” She also says, “Be of service, not in servitude.” Again, women are still expected to be in servitude, and that is really not okay!

Even in the 19^th century, Lucy Stone figured this out and was never in servitude, but happily of service – to her family, and the country.

For girls, it’s about self-esteem and convincing them that, Yes they can.

For boys, it’s about learning to respect women and girls.

These are two incredibly important and central issues facing young people today, and the future of our society, frankly.

Women’s history can play a role depending on how it’s presented. As dull and boring? No way. As inspiring, fascinating, fun, and filled with courageous role models, ideas, and solutions? Absolutely!

But herein lies the problem. Women’s history is not being taught to students under college age, and even then it’s elective. If young people do hear dribs and drabs about Abigail Adams, why should they care? She’s been dead for 200 years.

I’ve been interviewing young women, their teachers and parents, for the book I’m working on and what I’ve been hearing breaks my heart.

No knowledge of women’s history and no interest, combined with very serious self-esteem issues for girls around having babies too young, getting involved with the wrong boys, not seeing a future for themselves, not knowing or believing in their talents.

Yes, yes, I know there are exceptions, thank God, and there are some wonderful parents and teachers out there, but I keep hearing this across the economic spectrum.

And here’s where you, your business, or organization can play a leadership role. It will come back to you.

• Find the talented women’s history folks in your community and sponsor a talk where you know young people will show up – a Saturday afternoon talk at your public library, girl scouts or boy scouts (yes, just don’t tell them what it is), an after school program, a special walking tour, a kids-only tour through a woman’s home – find out what would be fun and interesting in your community, and an engaging person to do it.

• Sponsor a school project. In Boston, for the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail, 5^th graders created mini walking trails in their school’s neighborhood. They researched deceased women, and interviewed “live” ones. Boys and girls really “got it.” Students could also research and create displays, write a play, shoot a video, conduct oral histories – there’s no shortage of ideas out there.

• If an organization in your community is already trying to “do something” with women’s history that you know will have an impact, offer your support. Money is always welcome, but so is your endorsement and your proud affiliation as you let your customers, clients, and members know what you are doing and why.

In fact, all of these ideas mean terrific press opportunities for you and special events as projects get underway and are completed. Publicity and events around this work lead to good will, customers, and long memories.

Please also make a point of meeting the students involved. Tell them you are proud of them. Take an interest. Find a way to display what they did at your place of business or organization. 

For some of these young people, especially girls, they don’t hear “Well done!” enough in their lives. You would be surprised how little encouragement it takes from just one adult to make a difference in their lives.  

A quick story… 

I recently gave a talk about women during the Civil War for the Framingham (Massachusetts) Public Library. Afterward, a very shy girl, about 12, and her mother, approached me. Her mother asked if I would please give my talk at her daughter’s school because “these girls never hear this information and they would be so inspired.” Her daughter, who kind of hid behind her mother, said nothing, but she just kept nodding and I could see she had really gotten something out of what I had said. I have no idea what, but something. I wish I could have spoken with her privately.

Good for the Framingham Public Library for hosting this Saturday morning talk because where else would this young girl have heard it? Will she think about what I said? Probably. Will her mother find ways for her to go further? No doubt.

So…you never know, and wouldn’t you feel proud if you knew that you, your organization or business, had made a profound difference in the self-esteem of a young girl as she stood on the threshold of deciding whether or not she was worth anything.