(1917–2000). Poet Gwendolyn Brooks wrote about African American life during the 20th century. Her poems describe the difficult conditions that poor blacks have faced in the United States, including problems of racial prejudice and the struggles of African American women. Brooks used many forms of poetry in her writing, and her writing skills won her many awards. In 1950 she became the first African American to win a Pulitzer prize for poetry. The award was presented for her 1949 collection of poems titled Annie Allen, about the life of a black girl growing up in Chicago.

Early years

Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks was born in Topeka, Kansas, on June 7, 1917. She spent her childhood on Chicago's South Side with her younger brother and her parents. Brooks' parents encouraged the children's imagination and a love of literature.

Early writing career

Brooks first showed a talent for poetry at about the age of 7. When she was in her early teens, her first published poem, Eventide, appeared in a popular magazine called American Childhood. By the time she 17, she was publishing poems in The Chicago Defender, an important African American newspaper in the United States during the early and mid-20th century. Dozens of her poems appeared in the paper over time. From 1934 to 1936, she attended Wilson Junior College, where she majored in literature. After graduation she worked for some time as a typist, and in 1939, she married Henry Lowington Blakely, also a writer.

Famous poems

Brooks published her first collection of poems, A Street in Bronzeville, in 1945. The poems were admired for her descriptions of everyday life. Her most highly praised collection, The Bean Eaters, was published in 1960. It contains some of her most famous poetry, such as The Bean Eaters and We Real Cool. In a simple style, We Real Cool describes the difficulties of poverty on youth. Brooks continued to publish books of poetry throughout her life. She also published an autobiographical novel, Maud Martha, in 1953, as well as collections of personal memoirs, interviews, and letters.

Later years

Gwendolyn Brooks lectured and taught poetry at different colleges throughout her career. She also served as poet laureate of Illinois and as a Library of Congress consultant in poetry. In this position she encouraged many people to read and enjoy poetry. Brooks became a professor of English at Chicago State University in 1990. She taught there until her death on December 3, 2000.