Gwendolyn Brooks is one of the most influential poets known in the African American community. She challenged minds to expand, by writing truth and real-life situations based on her own experiences. Brooks in a sense helped cope with face to face struggles during the time when racism was high. She took inner thoughts of young black women; goals, dreams and aspirations and gave them a voice through her poetry. She was apart of the Harlem Renaissance, with Langston Hughes another profound poet who contributed to the uprising. Overall, she is phenomenal women that brought a positive influence on today's poets, such as the history making poet Elizabeth Alexander. This modern poet was influenced by Brooks, in which inspired her to speak at the Inauguration of President Obama.
[...] BLACK is an open umbrella. I am Black and A Black forever. I am one of The Blacks. We are Here, we are There. We occur in Brazil, in Nigeria, Ghana, in Botswana, Tanzania, in Kenya, in Russia, Australia, in Haiti, Soweto, in Grenada, in Cuba, in Panama, Libya in England and Italy, France. We are graces in any places. I am Black and A Black Forever. I am other than Hyphenation. I say, proudly, MY PEOPLE! I say, proudly, OUR PEOPLE! [...]
[...] Her many accomplishments included a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and the George Kent Award, which was given by her influential woman Gwendolyn Brooks herself. Her latest work was the poem that she presented during the historic Inauguration. Her inspiration for the creation of the poem for the ceremony was of the great Gwendolyn Brooks as said within an interview with Jeffery Brown from PBS: I have certainly have looked at the--not only the other inaugural poems that have come before this one, but also at other poems written by poets who have addressed matters of state I have looked at poems that I love that seemed to understand the historic moment that speaks out of historic moment, but hopefully a language that is somewhat enduring. [...]
[...] I love this poem, because its brings pride of a culture like Brooks and has something to celebrate. It gives inspiration that no matter what obstacles may arise, there is still praise to be shared. Gwendolyn Brooks, was a pioneer to the African-American community. She not only wrote poems that expressed the truth to make it through the rough times of racism; she inspired. Even after death in December 2000 at the age of 83 she is still considered of the best poets. [...]
[...] Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice. A woman and her son wait for the bus. A farmer considers the changing sky; A teacher says, "Take out your pencils. Begin." We encounter each other in words, words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; words to consider, reconsider. We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of someone and then others who said, need to see what's on the other side; I know there's something better down the road." We need to find a place where we are safe; We walk into that which we cannot yet see. [...]
[...] She noticed that Paul Laurence Dunbar had a certain English technique as to how he would write his poets, but Brooks had a different concept. She went out of the norm and wrote her first collection of poems in A Street in Bronzeville. Brooks received praised for all over. Her off-rhyme scheme in A Street in Bronzeville on black soliders in the war, Chaps at the Bar.” Caused controversy because, most would have not called men who are serving in the war gay. [...]
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