 Greetings. My name is Sheila Vance. I'm from Washington, D.C. The one book that I think influenced America was Phyllis Wheatley's first book of poetry. Even George Washington read her poetry. She was the first African-American woman who had a book published in these new United States. And it showed the world that slaves were smart. They can write. They can influence the nation. George Washington was influenced by Wheatley's writings about liberty and freedom. Thank you.