A volume of Phillis Wheatley's poems was published with a testimonial from prominent citizens certifying that she was, indeed, the author. What does this illustrate about the status of African-Americans at the time?
A) African-Americans were highly revered.
B) African-Americans were subject to the same standards as white authors, who also had to go through this verification process.
C) African-Americans were trusted only to write novels.
D) African-Americans were not allowed to publish anything without the explicit permission of a white person.
E) Many whites found it difficult to accept the idea of blacks' intellectual ability.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The need for a testimonial from prominent citizens to certify Phillis Wheatley's authorship illustrates the skepticism and disbelief many whites had regarding the intellectual abilities of African-Americans at the time.

A Volume of Phillis Wheatley's Poems Was Published with a Testimonial