Gwendolyn Brooks

Gwendolyn Brooks (1917–2000) was an American poet and author whose work captured the lives, struggles, and aspirations of Black communities, especially in Chicago. She published her first book of poems, *A Street in Bronzeville* (1945), followed by *Annie Allen* (1949), which won the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, making her the first African American to receive the honor. Brooks also wrote the novel *Maud Martha* (1953) and later poetry that reflected her growing engagement with Black cultural and political movements. Celebrated for her musical language and sharp observation, she remains a central voice in American literature.