ipl-logo

The Poetry Of Gwendolyn Brooks: Black Arts Movement

479 Words2 Pages

“When you use the term minority or minorities in reference to people, you 're telling them that they 're less than somebody else.” The majority of Gwendolyn Brooks writings or poems are inspired by racism. She wrote mostly about black rights but wrote about Hispanic rights also. Inspired by her family, the neighborhood kids, race, and the Black Arts Movement, Brooks strived to be the best poet. She won many awards for her great efforts in poetry. Gwendolyn contributed immensely to her society and to poetry as a whole. Chicago, known to be a “ghetto” city, was changed for the better due to Brooks’ poems. The poetry of Gwendolyn Brooks, which was influenced by personal background and by the Black Arts Movement, has contributed to the American literary heritage. …show more content…

Both of Gwendolyn’s parents, as well as her relationship with James Weldon Johnson and Langston Hughes, immensely influenced her poetry. Gwendolyn’s parents had deeply wanted her to have an education. Being an African American in the 1920’s was very hard. Many did not get an education. However, she was inspired by her parents to go to school and start writing at a very young age. In addition to her parents’ literary influence, Gwendolyn’s relationship with James Weldon Johnson and Langston Hughes inspired her to truly realize what type of poetry she wanted to write. Gwendolyn’s mom arranged a get together between Gwendolyn and the Harlem Renaissance writers (Terjesen “Gwendolyn Brooks”). Gwendolyn’s encounter with the writers encouraged her to do more. She started training in writing workshops and producing more poems. It is understandable that both Brook’s parental relationship and also her relationship with James Weldon Johnson and Langston Hughes initiated her writing but also inspired her to work as hard as she

Show More
Related
868 Words | 4 Pages

She used her poetry to reach the african american community and it gave them a sense of awareness. Her work was prideful and she, in turn, gave that pride back to her people to give a call to action. She first wrote two books in 1968 that became well known nation wide, and since no one wanted to publish her outspoken, “militant” poetry… she did it herself. She formed her own company and made her own money off of her books, she was very smart. There were mainly two things that influenced her writings, the revolution and her family.

Read More
155 Words | 1 Pages

Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks most important legacy was her poetry that she gave to the world and her teachings to college students in Chicago. When Brooks was only thirteen she wrote a poem that was published in a magazine. This was the start of a beautiful career that made her a legend. Her stories of her experiences and about urban lives led her to reach heights such as writing entire volumes of poetry. From all of this, she has won many awards for her work.

Read More
906 Words | 4 Pages

Although Phillis Wheatley’s five books Were ignored for years after her death and often dismissed as being too sentimental and patriotic Today her work is given the special honor it deserves. Indeed a debt of gratitude is owed this Early American poet for her discipline and determination with the site of her grave unknown the City of Boston honored her some two hundred years after death by erecting a monument in her

Read More
174 Words | 1 Pages

Education is a noticeable social establishment used to sustain the overall estimations of a general public. Many of us believe and expect that, education should be an engaging procedure that permits and assistants kids to build up their interests, basic considering, critical thinking, empathy, and introduction towards smartness for favorable activity. The article Inequality in public school by Michael Godsey, the U.S. department of education mentioned that, “equality in education is vital because equality of opportunity is a core American value” and integral to the country’s economic strength (P. 71). As I believe that everybody has the privilege to get the education and there ought to be equivalent open door for every one of the general population

Read More
882 Words | 4 Pages

In 1773, there were slaves all over colonial America working in plantations, and cleaning their masters houses. It wasn’t common for a slave to be writing poetry with their owners consent. Phyllis Wheatley’s success as the first African American published poet was what inspired generations to tell her story. It was her intellectual mind and point of view that made her different from others, both black and white. Phyllis’s story broke the barrier for all African American writers, and proved that no matter the gender or race, all human beings are capable of having an intelligent state of mind.

Read More
756 Words | 4 Pages

Hannah Parra Ms.McCall APUSH, 3rd Period 3 March, 2015 Question 1: A) The argument established in the excerpt asserted that during the Harlem Renaissance, blacks proved themselves to be active and important forces in our nation and the creation of an American cultural identity, the Renaissance did exactly that. The Harlem Renaissance was an important cultural outpouring for African Americans in Harlem, New York throughout the 1920’s. During this time, blacks advanced in art, literature, music, drama, and dance.

Read More
487 Words | 2 Pages

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, born on September 24, 1825, was a leading African American poet, author, teacher and political activist. Although she was born to “free” parents in Baltimore, Maryland, she still experienced her share of hardships. She lost her mother at the tender age of three, was raised by her aunt and uncle, and fully employed by thirteen. Though all odds seemed against her, she triumphed over her obstacles, publishing her first book of poetry at the of age twenty and her first novel at the age of sixty-seven. Outside of writing books, she was a civil rights leader and a public speaker in the Anti-Slavery Society.

Read More
1551 Words | 7 Pages

There was a lot of stress put on her, especially at her young age. But it only motivated her to keep pushing and to write more and this was around the time of World War II. Going through grief was a rollercoaster of emotions for her. She had to live the rest of her life without her father.

Read More
842 Words | 4 Pages

When thinking of a historical figure, many imagine a president, king, or general that lead a country to greatness, but never realized some could be the ones who influence the minds of society. Although not thought of as anything, writers and poets hold the key to shaping the society’s mindset without even knowing it. Being a civil rights activist, social activist, and role model for women makes Maya Angelou a historical figure who has made a huge impact in American society and in American history. Born poor and black, she was a childhood victim of rape, shamed into silence. She was a young single mother who had to work at strip clubs for a living.

Read More
2649 Words | 11 Pages

I. Introductory Paragraph and Thesis Statement Phillis Wheatley has changed the world of the literature and poetry for the better with her groundbreaking advancements for women and African Americans alike, despite the many challenges she faced. By being a voice for those who can not speak for themselves, Phillis Wheatley has given life to a new era of literature for all to create and enjoy. Without Wheatley’s ingenious writing based off of her grueling and sorrowful life, many poets and writers of today’s culture may not exist. Despite all of the odds stacked against her, Phillis Wheatley prevailed and made a difference in the world that would shape the world of writing and poetry for the better. II.

Read More
533 Words | 3 Pages

Gwendolyn Brooks was the first African American poet to win a Pulitzer Prize, since then she has received many awards, fellowships and honorary degrees (Hinton). Gwendolyn Brooks was born June 7, 1917 in Topeka Kansasas, to Kevin and Keziah Brooks. Shortly after, her family moved to Chicago, Illinoi. Brooks attended Hyde Park High School, the leading white high school in the city, later transferred to the all-black high school, Wendell Phillips High School and finally to the integrated Inglewood High School (Lee). These three institutions gave her a rounded perspective and understanding of racial dynamics in the United States, which is reflected throughout her poetry (Israel and Lawlor 10).

Read More
535 Words | 3 Pages

His poem Sympathy is just one example of how he felt trapped like a caged bird in his life. Even though the Civil War was over, African Americans still did not have as many privileges and opportunities as most White people had. Most of Dunbar’s writing showed his perspective of life and the struggles that came with it. Maya Angelou was born in 1928 and suffered a hard childhood that later on affected her writing. When she was eight years old, Maya was sexually abused and raped by her mother’s boyfriend.

Read More
700 Words | 3 Pages

In Dorothy Parker’s poem “Symptom Recital” she states, “My soul is crushed, my spirit sore; I do not like me anymore” (15-16). Dorothy Parker, the wittiest woman in America, captures her audiences with poems expressing her opinion about life’s hardships. Throughout Dorothy’s disordered life, she was married three times, attempted suicide, and had an abortion. Her lifestyle was very influential on her writing.

Read More
458 Words | 2 Pages

Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou were African Americans alive during the period in American history when minority groups were fighting hard for their rights and respect among the country. These two authors used their writing skill to shed light on how African Americans felt throughout this period of time, opening many people’s eyes to how the oppressed truly felt. The civil rights movement could have had an entirely different outcome if it weren’t outspoken individuals such as these two. In Hughes’s well known poem “I, Too,” Hughes talks about how the people that mistreat him will soon regret everything they’ve done and will realize the true potential of him and everyone like him.

Read More
514 Words | 3 Pages

During the 1900s, there were many famous authors who wrote about African Americans and Civil Rights. This was what was going on during this time period. Segregation and discrimination towards blacks was increasing. Two famous authors were Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou. Langston Hughes wrote the poem “I, Too, Sing America.”

Read More

More about The Poetry Of Gwendolyn Brooks: Black Arts Movement

Related Topics

Open Document