2017 marks the 100 year anniversary of the poet, Gwendolyn Brooks’ birth. Though Brooks died on December 3, 2000, her legacy is very strong in modern literary history. She is very highly regarded as one of the most important poets of the 20th century. Brooks was born in Topeka, Kansas on June 7, 1917. Her family moved to Chicago when she was just six years old and the Windy City became her home until her death.
Brooks began writing poetry at an early age and even published a poem in a children’s magazine when she was only thirteen. She went on to continue publishing and gained praise from prominent African American poets such as Langston Hughes and James Weldon Johnson. Brooks drew much of her inspiration from the everyday life of inner city Chicago. Her second poetry book, Annie Allen, focuses on a young girl in Bronezville, a neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. Brooks was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1950 for this book. She was the first African American author to win this prestigious award.
Gwendolyn Brooks continued to gain much recognition during her lifetime. For example, she was named the official poetry consultant to the Library of Congress. Also, in 1968 she was appointed as Poet Laureate of the state of Illinois. This was a position that Brooks held until her death.
Poems such as “Song in the Front Yard,” “The Lovers of the Poor,” and “We Real Cool” are among her most famous.
The library is celebrating Gwendolyn Brooks’ Centennial by hosting a Coffeehouse Poetry Night on Wednesday, June 14th. Drop in for refreshments and a short lecture as well as a reading of Brooks’ poetry. An open mic session will follow where participants are encouraged to read original poetry or a favorite poem. See more about this event here.
Read more about Gwendolyn Brooks below:
Illinois State Library Heritage Project
Posted by: Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist
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