Gwendolyn Brooks once said “I felt that I had to write. Even if I had never been published, I knew that I would go on writing, enjoying it, and experiencing the challenge”. For some, writing may not be enjoyable or easy, but for Brooks writing was her life. Gwendolyn Brooks not only won countless awards, but also influenced the lives of several African Americans. Brooks love for writing developed early in her childhood. Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks was born on June 7, 1917 in Topeka, Kansas (Shuman 195). She was the oldest child of David Anderson Brooks and Keziah Wims Brooks (Shuman 196). Not long after Brook’s birth, her family packed and moved to Chicago (Williams 1). Gwendolyn was nicknamed “Gwendie” by her close family and friends …show more content…
(“Biography” 1). The Brooks had a strong family unit and that helped them get through tough times (Shuman 196). At the early age of thirteen, Brooks published her first poem, “Eventide”, in a local children’s magazine (Williams 1). Although Brooks experienced racial prejudice throughout high school, she was able to overcome that and continue writing and publishing. Brooks attended two integrated high schools and one all-black high school in Chicago (“Biography” 1). Brooks graduated from Englewood High school in 1934 (Shuman 197). Langston Hughes and James Weldon Johnson also played a part in encouraging Brooks to continue writing when she met them during high school; they also encouraged her to focus more on modern life (Shuman 196). Hughes read a few of her early poems and was impressed and highly urged her to continue with a writing career (Shuman 196). Throughout high school, Brooks was able to continue writing and publishing poems with the support and encouragement from her parents (Shuman 196). Popularity and fame did not come quickly for Brooks.
She published around seventy-five poems before beginning college (“Biography” 1). Brooks graduated college from Wilson Junior College in 1936 (“Biography” 1). Three years later, at the age of 22, she married Henry Lowington Blakely II (Shuman 199). They married and moved into a small kitchenette apartment which would later be used as an inspiration to some of Brooks works. Blakely and Brooks later separated in 1969 and then reconciled in 1974 and stayed together (Shuman 199). While developing as a poet, Brooks became a secretary to support herself and her husband (“Biography” 2). Brooks and Blakely had two children, Henry and Nora (“Biography” 2). After the birth of their two children, Brooks began a teaching career (“Biography” 2).She started out teaching at Chicago’s Columbia College in 1963 this is where she received an honorary doctorate (Shuman 199). Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Columbia University, and the University of Wisconsin were all colleges Brooks taught in (“Biography” 2). During her teaching career, Brooks continued to write and publish many poems (“Biography”2). Brooks decided to stop teaching after suffering a small heart-attack in 1971 (Shuman
199). Gwendolyn Brooks was nominated for and won many awards and honors for her poems. Brooks was the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for her book Annie Allen (Encyclopedia 1). Annie Allen was a book that “related to an African American girl growing up in Chicago” (Encyclopedia 1). Brooks also achieved national fame and success for her book of poetry A Street in Bronzeville (Shuman 197). This book brought her many honors and awards (Shuman 197). Brooks works also influenced the life of many African Americans, especially women (Shuman 197). Most of Brooks works pertained to the life of African Americans and were easy to relate to for those people. Her works focused more on the modern life of African Americans and how it was living in Chicago. Brooks published many other famous works such as In the Mecca, The Bean Eaters, “Boy Breaking Glass”, “Malcolm X”, Report from Part Two, Primer for Blacks, Young Poet’s Primer, To Disembark, The Near-Johannesburg Boy, Blacks, Winnie, and Children Coming Home (Encyclopedia 1). Brooks was also named the poet laureate of Illinois, won an award from Midwestern Writers’ Conference in Chicago, awarded a Guggenheim fellowship, a second Guggenheim fellowship, and selected as Jefferson Lecturer by the National Endowment for the Humanities (Shuman 199). Brooks won an abundant amount of awards and honors during her lifetime for her amazing works. Gwendolyn Brooks was an influential poet who won national awards and honors and touched the lives of numerous African Americans. Gwendolyn Brooks passed away of cancer on December 3, 2000 in her Chicago home (Shuman 199). Gwendolyn Brooks was an honorable, successful, and famous poet and individual and will always be remembered for her hard work and success.
In “We Real Cool,” by Gwendolyn Brooks, one can almost visualize a cool cat snapping his fingers to the beat, while she is reading this hip poem. Her powerful poem uses only a few descriptive words to conjure up a gang of rebellious teens. Brooks employs a modern approach to the English language and her choice of slang creates a powerful jazz mood. All of the lines are very short and the sound on each stop really pops. Brooks uses a few rhymes to craft an effective sound and image of the life she perceives. With these devices she manages to take full control of her rhyme and cultivates a morally inspiring poem.
Adler-Kassner, Lisa. “Taking Action to Change Stories.” The Activist WPA: Changing Stories about Writing and Writers. Logan, UT: Utah State, 2008.
Gwendolyn was born July 8, 1902 in Giddings, Texas. Her full name was Gwendolyn Bennetta Bennett. She spent part of her life in Nevada, where her parents were educators. Gwendolyn had a different type of childhood, as one would say. Her parents later got divorced. Her mother received custody, her father did not seem too happy. Her father later remarried, and kidnapped
"Speech to the young" is a poem by Gwendolyn Brooks which is about telling young people to live in the future and say no to the down-Keepers, sun-slappers, self-soilers, and, the harmony-hushers. She is telling young people to "live in the along" which she is telling them to live in the future and don't mess up. She is telling young people to live in the along because some people live in the past which that's a bad thing. They also need to live and think positive. One line she has i really like is "even if you are not ready for day it cannot always be night." This poem in line six and seven are telling you that, day is a bad time and night is a good time to change something bad. An example of alliteration in this poem is "it cannot always be
Gwendolyn Brooks’ did not let her hurdles in life slow her down. In fact, Brooks’ used her obstacles to her advantage, and sprinted towards the finish line. Gwendolyn faced financial struggles, and limited opportunities due to her racial background. However, Brooks’ achieved many accomplishments and used her African American heritage to become one of America’s best poetic authors. Gwendolyn Brooks has said that her poetry was written for blacks and about blacks, yet any person of any race can relate to the universal themes portrayed in her pieces.
“The Road Not Taken.” Literature and the Writing Process. Ed. Elizabeth McMahan et al. 8th ed.
Harrison, Faye. "Writing Against The Grain: Cultural Politics Of Difference In The Work Of Alice Walker." Women Writing Culture. Ed. R. Behar and D.A Gordon. University of California Press, 1195. 233-245.
The most important legacy of Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks is the influence that her poems and teachings have on others. Brooks won numerous awards for the poetry that she wrote. In addition to that, she believed that the idea that a poem communicates is more important than prizes that a poet may earn. Also, in addition to being a poet, Brooks was a college professor. She taught college students the importance of clarity in writing poetry. Many of the students that she taught eventually moved on to write their own poetry. Gwendolyn Brooks continues to influence current generations and will continue to influence many generations to come.
She was like a flower that grew from concrete. There are many fabulous poets in the world, but not many are as special as Gwendolyn Brooks. Her vibrant poetry and witty perspective on life as an African American female in the Civil Rights era has made her one of the most renowned poets to be born in America. Her contribution to poetry and the arts is impeccable. Her famous poems are still raved about till this day. This woman is truly a legend.
Brooks was A poet in the 1940s where she influenced many races and religions because of her writing. In Brooks’s poetry she received many prestigious awards and, less formally, has been celebrated by other poets. This is showing that other poets look up to her because of how influential and wise she is. Not only was Brooks one of the best African American poets ever but she is in the conversation for the best for any race. This is showing something, because in Brooks’s time people looked at African Americans differently because of race and other stuff like being wealthy or poor but for Brooks every race looked at her as a influential great poet. The reasons for this is because of how Brooks fought for her race and showed many people that everyone is the same. For Brooks this is one of the many things that she has done that is influential. This is making Brooks a one of a kind poet because of no other poet can match what she has done.
As the old piece of advice goes, people should enjoy the little things in life, for one day you will look back and realize they were the big things. The context of this statement pertains to Gwendolyn Brooks' poem, “Speech to The Young: Speech to the Progress-Toward” in which she tries to instill the same values in the youth. Both the poem and Brooks explain that to achieve happiness, one must abide by their own goals and not let the persuasion of others change that. Gwendolyn Brooks was an African American poet who wrote during the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, which were times of great struggle, hardship, and change for blacks seeking equality. Her experiences and views clearly influenced her work and drove her messages. She won many awards for her
Making the decision to become a writer for some, is a childhood dream. For others, it is a later in life decision, such as the case of Rebecca Goppert and Stephanie Jackson. Both of these writers share some characteristics, yet they are uniquely different writers. The decisions of when, how, and what to write vary between the two, yet they complete a book on the same train of thought. Both of these writers are talented and skilled in their professional lives, and have proven to be highly valued for their creative output.
Rebellion is simply the resistance to or defiance of any authority, control or tradition. (Sandi Amorim, para 1, n.d.). Rebellion can be expressed in many different forms, and in this case, it is poetry. The poems, “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks, “Theme for English B” and “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes, all have a distinct display of rebellion.
Readers can gain a richer understanding of “truth”, when they view it through anti-death of the author, and look at the life experiences that shaped Gwendolyn Brooks. This can breed some of their work.demonstrated when you look into the author's life, and see what experiences in their life may This is apparent with Gwendolyn Brooks and her poem ‘truth’, when you look into Brooke's experiences, you can gain a new perspective, as shown by this connection in one of her biographies, it states “other books brought out by black publishers were given only brief notice by critics of the literary establishment because, ‘they did not wish to encourage black publishers’”. The literary community was missing out on the truth, views, and ideas, because
“The Lovers of the Poor” by Gwendolyn Brooks truly shows Brooks’s social awareness. It is a satire on people with neither respect nor genuine charity. The theme of the poem is poverty while the subject is the Ladies’ Betterment League attitude towards the poor. The women from the Ladies’ Betterment League feel it their duty to step outside their affluent environment and help the less fortunate. However, they are totally unprepared for the raw, teeming poverty that they encounter. Brooks’ use of language reveals both the attitudes of the ladies toward the poor as well as the speaker’s attitude toward the ladies, all while creating an important contrast between these two attitudes which proves necessary to the theme of the poem as an example of “poetry of witness”, as well as reflecting the ideals of the Black Arts Movement.