::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

  The U.S. Postal Service is honoring Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784), the first author of African descent in the American Colonies to publish a book, with the 49th stamp in the Black Heritage series. Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, at 11 a.m. EST Where: Old South Meeting House 310 Washington St. Boston, MA 02108 The first-day-of-issue event for the Phillis Wheatley Black Heritage stamp is free and open to the public. The event is free and open to the public.   Attendees are encouraged to register at  https://www.usps.com/philliswheatleystamp WHO IS PHYLLIS WHEATLEY Born in West Africa and brought to Boston on a slave ship, Phillis Wheatley was enslaved but educated in the Wheatley household. Wheatley published her first collection, "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral," in 1773. This collection showcased her impressive mastery of various poetic forms, including hymns, elegies, and narrative verse, securing her place in history. Freed from slavery that same year, sh...