Gwendolyn Brooks

Date of Birth: June 7, 1917

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: December 3, 2000

Biography

Gwendolyn Brooks was an American poet, author, and teacher who became the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for her book “Annie Allen” in 1950. Born in Topeka, Kansas, she moved to Chicago as an infant, where she lived for most of her life. Her work often dealt with the personal celebrations and struggles of ordinary people in her community. Brooks’ poetry ranged from traditional poetic forms to free verse and was characterized by its insightful treatment of racial and social issues. Throughout her career, she published numerous collections of poetry, a novel, and an autobiography. She also served as the Poet Laureate of Illinois and the Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress.

5 Interesting Facts about Gwendolyn Brooks

1. Gwendolyn Brooks was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize.

2. She was named Poet Laureate of Illinois in 1968, a position she held until her death.

3. Brooks attended three different high schools: Hyde Park High School, the all-black Wendell Phillips Academy High School, and the integrated Englewood High School.

4. She published her first poem in a children’s magazine at the age of 13.

5. In 1995, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Gwendolyn Brooks

1. “We are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond.”

2. “Exhaust the little moment. Soon it dies. And be it gash or gold it will not come again in this identical disguise.”

3. “Poetry is life distilled.”

4. “Art hurts. Art urges voyages – and it is easier to stay at home.”

5. “When you love a man, he becomes more than a body. His physical limbs expand, and his outline recedes, vanishes. He is rich and sweet and right. He is part of the world, the atmosphere, the blue sky and the blue water.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Gwendolyn Brooks’ highest net worth was modest by modern standards, primarily because she was a poet and academic. Estimates place her net worth around $1 million at its peak, reflecting her earnings from book sales, teaching positions, and various awards.

Children

Gwendolyn Brooks had two children: Nora Brooks Blakely and Henry Blakely Jr. Both of her children have been involved in preserving and promoting their mother’s literary legacy.