Literature in English, North America, Ethnic and Cultural Minority Commons^™

Gwendolyn Brooks: Tragedies That Led Her To The Black Consciousness, Diana Gonzalez '20, Samantha Lazcano '20, Esha Dani '20

Distinguished Student Work

Gwendolyn Brooks was a black poet who initially conformed to the writing expectations set by white poets during the 1930s. Specifically, her writing resembled that of Euro-American poets, making black audiences reluctant to read her work. However, in 1967, Brooks had a literary awakening that led her to the black consciousness: the belief that black artists should be writing for black audiences through the expression of black experiences. Brooks used her gift as a talented poet to resonate with the black youth in Chicago, instead of focusing on white audiences. She took the many tragedies, such as discrimination and racism, …