Gwendolyn Brooks

Hello, my name is Gwendolyn Brooks. I was born on June 7th, 1917, but my family soon moved to the big city of Chicago, and that is where I grew up. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved words. I loved to read them in books, and I especially loved to write them down in poems. My parents always encouraged me and were so proud of my writing. I was a very shy child, and sometimes it was hard for me to speak up. But when I wrote poems, I felt brave and strong. It was like my pencil was my voice. I was so excited when, in 1930, my very first poem was published in a magazine. I was only thirteen years old. Seeing my words printed for others to read was one of the best feelings in the world.

As I got older, I kept writing about the world I knew best. I wrote poems about my neighborhood in Chicago, which was called Bronzeville. It was a wonderful place filled with families, music, and stories. I loved to sit and watch the people around me as they went to work, played in the parks, or talked on their front steps. I wrote about their lives, their dreams for the future, and all the feelings they had inside. In 1945, I put many of these poems together and published my very first book, called 'A Street in Bronzeville.' Through my writing, I wanted to show everyone the beauty and importance of the everyday lives of my Black neighbors. Their stories deserved to be told, and I was happy to be the one to share them.

After my first book, I wrote another book of poetry called 'Annie Allen.' It told the story of a young girl growing up. Then, something amazing happened in the year 1950. I received a phone call with the most wonderful news. I had won a very famous award called the Pulitzer Prize for my book. This was such a huge moment. I was the very first African American person ever to win this special prize. It made me feel so proud. It showed me, and it showed the whole world, that the stories of Black people were important and that my voice as a poet mattered.

Winning that award made me want to share my love of poetry with even more people. I became a teacher, and I helped young students learn how to write their own poems and tell their own stories. I loved seeing their faces light up when they found the perfect words. In 1968, I was given a very special job. I became the Poet Laureate of Illinois, which is my home state. That meant I was the state's official poet. I didn't want poetry to just stay in books on a shelf. I traveled all over, visiting schools, parks, and community centers to read my poems out loud for children and grown-ups to enjoy.

I spent my whole life writing poems about the world as I saw it, sharing the stories of my community. I lived to be 83 years old. Today, my poems are still read in schools and homes all across the country. They help people see the music that can be found in simple words and understand the stories of a neighborhood just like mine. I hope my work inspires you to look closely at your own world and find the courage to share your own special story, because everyone's voice is important.