Poet Gwendolyn Brooks‏

Gwendolyn Brooks was one of the most influential American writers and poets of the 20^th century.  Based primarily in Chicago, Illinois, a center of Blues and Jazz cultures, her poems often carry a musical quality, and many catalog the black experience.

Brooks was the first African-American to win the Pulitzer Prize (which she won for her book of poetry Annie Allen). Her most famous poem is “We Real Cool.” She wrote over twenty books of poetry during her lifetime, and was honored with many awards, including serving as the Poet Laureate for the state of Illinois in 1968 and as a Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 1985 to 1986.