This poster explores the complexities of identity in the works of Phillis Wheatley Peters and Honoreé Fanonne Jeffers, emphasizing how personal heritage, race, and historical context shape self-perception and the struggle for recognition. Through an analysis of Wheatley-Peters's poems “To the Right Honorable William, Earl of Dartmouth” and “On Being Brought from Africa to America,” as well as Jeffers's poetic exploration in The Age of Phillis, the paper examines how both poets navigate the tension between African heritage and colonial American society. Wheatley-Peters's work highlights the negotiation of identity through her literary craft, where she simultaneously asserts her voice and challenges the societal constructs imposed on her as an enslaved woman. Jeffers, in turn, delves into Wheatley-Peters’s life, reflecting on themes of family, lineage, and heritage, suggesting that self-identity is shaped by both personal resilience and the cultural legacies passed down through generations. Jeffers, in her examination of Wheatley-Peter’s life and work, furthers this exploration by highlighting the intricacies between personal and collective identity, especially through the lens of connections to her family and homeland. Together, these poets shed light on the never-ending impact of heritage on self-discovery, emphasizing that identity is not merely a reflection of where one comes from, but a complex, evolving narrative shaped by personal resilience and cultural history. This poster will demonstrate how both poets illuminate the ongoing struggle for identity and belonging, particularly for Black Americans whose individual narratives were erased through the transatlantic slave trade. By engaging with their works, this poster contributes to a deeper understanding of how history, family, and personal agency intertwine to form complex and evolving identities.