Biography
Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks was born in Topeka, Kansas on June 7, 1917 (Gwendolyn Brooks). As a part of the Great Migration, Gwendolyn moved to Chicago when she was only six weeks old. A nickname friends and family called her was “Gwendie”. As a teen she attended three high schools. The first one she attended was Hyde Park High School which was integrated. Then, she attended an all-black school, Wendell Phillips Academy High School. Brooks’ last high school was also integrated and it was Englewood High School. Throughout Brooks’ experiences at all these high schools, she encountered “racial prejudice”. These trials and struggles she faced in high school would influence her writing. Brooks had already began to publish her work when she graduated from Wilson Junior College in 1936 (Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks).
Brooks’ first poem was published in a children’s magazine when she was 13. She continued her writing path and by age 16 she had published 75 poems! She would submit her work to an African-American newspaper in Chicago (Gwendolyn Brooks). Her writing included sonnets, ballads, and content about Chicago. Brooks said later in her, “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” (Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks).
While Brooks established herself as a poet she worked as a secretary. She would also attend poetry workshops. Brooks really became recognized when she received an award in 1943 from the Midwestern Writers’ conference. Then in 1945, she published her first book of poetry called A Street in Bronzeville. This book was a huge success for Brooks. She received many honors such as Guggenheim Fellowship. Brooks then published her second book in 1949, Annie Allen. Her talent in Annie Allen won her the Pulitzer Prize. Brooks was the first African-American to win that award (Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks).
Later in her life after all her success, Brooks became interested in a teaching career. She taught at Columbia College in Chicago, Chicago State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Columbia University, and the University of Wisconsin. Brooks still continued to write and publish receiving more honors like being nominated for a National Book award in poetry (Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks).
Gwendolyn Brooks died at the age of 83 on December 3, 2000 due to cancer in her hometown of Chicago (Gwendolyn Brooks).
Brooks’ first poem was published in a children’s magazine when she was 13. She continued her writing path and by age 16 she had published 75 poems! She would submit her work to an African-American newspaper in Chicago (Gwendolyn Brooks). Her writing included sonnets, ballads, and content about Chicago. Brooks said later in her, “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” (Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks).
While Brooks established herself as a poet she worked as a secretary. She would also attend poetry workshops. Brooks really became recognized when she received an award in 1943 from the Midwestern Writers’ conference. Then in 1945, she published her first book of poetry called A Street in Bronzeville. This book was a huge success for Brooks. She received many honors such as Guggenheim Fellowship. Brooks then published her second book in 1949, Annie Allen. Her talent in Annie Allen won her the Pulitzer Prize. Brooks was the first African-American to win that award (Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks).
Later in her life after all her success, Brooks became interested in a teaching career. She taught at Columbia College in Chicago, Chicago State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Columbia University, and the University of Wisconsin. Brooks still continued to write and publish receiving more honors like being nominated for a National Book award in poetry (Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks).
Gwendolyn Brooks died at the age of 83 on December 3, 2000 due to cancer in her hometown of Chicago (Gwendolyn Brooks).