Gwendolyn Brooks - A Great Black Poet

A detailed Summary of Gwendolyn Brooks - A Great Black Poet

On June 7, 1917 in Topeka, Kansas, an amazing person was born. Gwendolyn Brooks was a black female poet who has inspired and touched many people who have read her poetry. Brooks was the first black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize Brooks began writing at age eleven and was first published at age fifteen. Throughout Gwendolyn Brooks' works, she writes about racism, the lives of blacks, and her love for all people no matter what race or class they are.

In many of Brooks' works, she identifies the cause of interracial problems within the black community. The cause is white racism and its affects on society. One example of racism in Brooks' works is in "The Ballad of Chocolate Mabbie." This poem is about a black female heroine who is tortured by the white kids because of the color of her dark skin and her black lover named Willie Boone. Throughout "The Ballad of Pearl May Lee", Brooks talks about sweet revenge and betrayal for the love of a black man. Although most of these poems are dealing with unpleasant racism against blacks, she also writes well of blacks. For example, in "Boys, Black", she encourages black kids to develop good health and a good overall appearance. Brooks, unlike some writers is not a racial writer.

Racism in Brooks' works can best be described in the poem "Maude Martha." During Christmas time, Maude takes her child Paulette to go and see Santa Clause. Santa was talking and showing much love towards the little white kids, but he paid no attention what so ever to little old Maude Martha's black child. When this happens, Maude has every intention of stabbing Santa's eyes out with a scissors, but decides violence will not solve anything. Maude now just hopes Paulette can live in the fantasy world thinking everything is ok as long as she can. In Brooks' autobiography she states that, "A dark-complexioned girl just didn't have a chance if there was light skinned competition" .

Gwendolyn Brooks is a very nice and loving person. While reflecting on the tensions of her time period due to racial oppression, Brooks shows much love for all people no matter what social class they stand. In her writings, she expresses her love for her brothers, sisters, relatives, and just any person that needs love. Brooks quotes, "To be in love is to touch things with a lighter hand". Brooks has only written two love poems, "When you've forgotten Sunday" and "Steam Song," but she expresses her love in all of her poems.

She does not curse white people or black people, she just tells it how it is. In her essay in "Black Woman Writers" she quotes, "Black emphasis must not be against white, but for blacks.

Brooks' image of the rejected black person shows a personal quest for affirmation. The brutal affects that racism has against African American men, women, and children cannot go untouched. Beauty parlors are a big ordeal in

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Approximate Word count = 1124
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: People