An interview with Gwendolyn Brooks

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  • Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
  • In this edition of HoCoPoLitSo's The Writing life, revered American poet Gwendolyn Brooks sat down in 1986 to talk with Alan Jabbour, director of the Library of Congress' American Folklore division, and E. Ethelbert Miller, poet and director of the African American Resource Center at Howard University.
    Brooks was the Library of Congress' 29th consultant in poetry, and tells the story in this program of winning the Pulitzer at age 32, and getting the phone call in the dark because the electric company had cut off their power because they couldn't afford to pay the bill. She recites "We Real Cool," a poem she says has lasted because of its "insouciance and staccato effect." She talks about her introduction to black nationalism, feminism and James Baldwin. Brooks says, "I like for blacks to be proud of what they have come from. They need to learn they have much to be proud of."
    For more information about The Writing Life and HoCoPoLitSo, visit www.hocopolitso.org.

КОМЕНТАРІ • 111

  • @WilkineBrutus
    @WilkineBrutus 10 років тому +62

    She is a beautiful human being.

    • @rievans57
      @rievans57 10 років тому +4

      ***** can you imagine a black person winning such a prestigious award as the Pulitzer Prize several years before the Emmitt Till tragedy?

  • @kevinomariglesias1115
    @kevinomariglesias1115 2 роки тому +38

    “Even if you’re not ready for the day, it cannot always be night” -Gwendolyn Brooks

    • @felinefokus
      @felinefokus 2 роки тому +1

      What does it mean?

    • @brainerd8969
      @brainerd8969 Рік тому +4

      @@felinefokuslet’s say you got a test tomorrow and you not ready, you can worry or whatever but the day is gonna come it cannot always be night means the night will pass and it will be a new day even if you don’t want it to come

    • @prilljazzatlanta5070
      @prilljazzatlanta5070 Місяць тому

      @@felinefokusit means face reality

  • @yancy1200
    @yancy1200 2 роки тому +63

    Kanye West brought me here “even if you are not ready for the day, it cannot always be night”. Brilliant Poet

  • @crystalgrose
    @crystalgrose 8 років тому +28

    She left such a legacy. Rest in Heaven.

  • @jacklowe3429
    @jacklowe3429 9 місяців тому +3

    I met Ms. Brooks before a reading she gave at Elmhurst (IL) College in 1992. She was a sharp, down to earth person who gave an energetic reading, despite being almost 80 years old at the time. The meeting was a pleasure, as well as a privilege, for me. She is one of the reasons I became a poet, myself.

  • @kpoLove
    @kpoLove 3 роки тому +15

    Gwendolyn Brooks is one of the greatest poet in history.

  • @happylindsay4475
    @happylindsay4475 5 років тому +19

    She is a gift to humanity.

  • @DTWrites1books
    @DTWrites1books 8 років тому +56

    She inspired me to write! An amazing woman and an incredible talent!

    • @hocopolitso
      @hocopolitso  8 років тому +4

      +DTWrites1 I'm so glad Ms. Brooks inspired you. She was an astonishing poet. If you liked this interview, try one with Lucille Clifton, another poet who looked around at her world in amazing ways. Keep writing!

  • @theoutsiderartists1231
    @theoutsiderartists1231 6 місяців тому +1

    I'm not a poet but I've written hundreds of songs that have come to nothing. This astonishing lady has left a legacy that anyone would be proud of. A life well-lived.

  • @hocopolitso
    @hocopolitso  11 років тому +15

    Isn't it wonderful to hear her voice reading? And her facial expressions are terrific too. Thanks for watching!

  • @-beee-
    @-beee- Рік тому +4

    Wow, what a brilliant interview. Thank you for sharing this!

  • @darcy27
    @darcy27 5 років тому +11

    AN ABSOLUTE LITERARY LEGEND, GWENDOLYN BROOKS.

  • @andreatucker4377
    @andreatucker4377 5 років тому +6

    What an amazing black woman!what an honor to.see and listen to this black poet.

  • @TheMajesticKnight
    @TheMajesticKnight 4 роки тому +11

    Thank you for uploading this amazing interview of the beautiful Gwendolyn Brooks

    • @hocopolitso
      @hocopolitso  4 роки тому +2

      Thank you, Lyn, for watching and appreciating.

  • @hocopolitso
    @hocopolitso  11 років тому +15

    Hi Angelina,
    I'm glad you're researching Ms. Brooks -- you're right. She is amazing. And there's not much video of her, so this is a good find. Good luck with the paper.

  • @JasonLandsdown-ss3ew
    @JasonLandsdown-ss3ew 5 місяців тому

    She was very genuine upfront and honest. The scope of her intelligence is remarkable.

  • @toricoltori
    @toricoltori 8 місяців тому +1

    I met Ms. Brooks while in the stacks at Chicago State University's library in the mid 90s....she
    touched my soul!

  • @burtmanly5208
    @burtmanly5208 2 роки тому +3

    I really enjoyed this, thank you.
    Notebook by ones side is the best advice anyone can give . Jot down everything and anything.
    The passing moment will be clay you mould, the cake you bake... And your most prized gift.
    I lost all mine which was upsetting...Such is a life of moving around.
    Hopefully, the social media age won't damage the future poets too much...

  • @felinefokus
    @felinefokus 2 роки тому +3

    She is special shout out to Bell Hooks for bringing me here

    • @hocopolitso
      @hocopolitso  2 роки тому +2

      A good shout-out to both bell hooks and to Brooks. We're happy bell brought you. Try some Lucille Clifton from our channel!

    • @felinefokus
      @felinefokus 2 роки тому

      @@hocopolitso Thank you for the recommendation! I surely will! What are your thoughts on Toni Morrison's work? I am just discovering her too. What was her message?

    • @hocopolitso
      @hocopolitso  2 роки тому +1

      @@felinefokus Not sure Morrison really had a message, besides the necessity of kindness and humanity. Song of Solomon -- that's a great novel to start with, then work your way up to Beloved!

    • @felinefokus
      @felinefokus 2 роки тому

      @@hocopolitso kindness and humanity, acts worthy of dissemination! Thank you for your thoughtful feedback 💙

  • @lovelyjavid
    @lovelyjavid 11 років тому +10

    her voice is awesome

  • @gloriamitchell3518
    @gloriamitchell3518 2 роки тому +4

    Great content!!

    • @andrewsmurphy
      @andrewsmurphy Рік тому

      Hello Gloria....nice meeting you here...I hope you are having a nice day out there?

  • @hocopolitso
    @hocopolitso  11 років тому +12

    I love Brooks' recitation of that poem in this recording, but as she said she loved, she heard many different versions over the years. That's what's great about poetry, you can interpret it based on your experience and make it your own. Poets just send their poems like balloons out into the world. It's up to readers to catch and appreciate.

    • @franklinblunt69
      @franklinblunt69 3 роки тому +2

      Yes, but doesn't mean she agrees with or condones those interpretations. Such change & personalization possible, but still misinterprets the poets intended message, she is very misunderstood & exploited. That staccato, deliberately transitioning with emphasis of We & pause after, brilliant.

  • @JamieDPS
    @JamieDPS 2 роки тому +2

    "Even if you are not ready for day
    it cannot always be night."

  • @therealzilch
    @therealzilch 10 років тому +10

    What a lovely and intelligent lady.

  • @nika_sk8848
    @nika_sk8848 2 роки тому +3

    She is absolutely awesome!

  • @nappyscribe1987
    @nappyscribe1987 4 роки тому +8

    I’m a Black Writer and will tell it in my Blackness FOR Blacks.
    The reason I came to this conclusion is because in my first book I found myself explaining a lot for white readers, then I heard Toni Morrison say knock the little white man off your shoulder and go on and write the book.

    • @franklinblunt69
      @franklinblunt69 3 роки тому

      Please apologize for the tone of my message & you are free to respond in kind because I accept the criticism & honest revelations, but it truly is heart-wrenching & disappointing that somehow (although not surprising amid the aberrant conditions & disinformation) you don't get her message about self-reflection, personal responsibility, & accountability, among else, but divert & externalize along with selectively or deliberately suppressing exposure & indulge, instead of imposing accountability upon the worse abuses, violations, harm, & outright evil, from whomever & wherever it may happen. As with too many, persisting off their own bias, hypocrisy, hate, & bigotry to promote, enable, & indulge abuse, discrimination, prejudice, ethical incongruity (then cry foul when people righteously respond & they are deservedly treated the same, else inherently suspicious & unable to respond with requisite courtesy & kindness or provide protection to anybody so vulnerable or actually getting harmed), socio-economic disparity, immorality, persecution & injustice undeservedly imposed upon innocent people merely from superficial characterizations & perceptions or worse perpetuating them. Either explicit or implied by your statements, I already can expect validation. You could truthfully expose any & all abuse from actual incidents & real people, nothing vicarious or perceived, I'm very critical & intelligent to discern such, beside have means to research. I'm an objective, sympathetic, & compassionate person, along with empathetic since I have endured such abuse, harm, injustice, exploitation, ... Also please provide your published writing along with other behaviors & actions which I may consider either substantiating my expectations or perhaps countering them, but likely I will only receive the expected slander & vehement disregard. I'm hoping for the better & being pleasantly surprised, which would be welcome amid those aberrant conditions & perpetual disappointment. Hope that you are safe & protected.

  • @q2breath
    @q2breath 5 років тому +6

    What an Extraordinary woman!

    • @hocopolitso
      @hocopolitso  5 років тому +1

      Agreed -- she is so strong and animated in this interview, I love her recitation and responses.

  • @SSorrens
    @SSorrens 8 років тому +6

    Thank you primary sources!

    • @hocopolitso
      @hocopolitso  8 років тому +2

      +SeribroUltimateGamer National History Day? Hope this program helped your paper/report/project! And she's an inspiring story, with a great reciting voice.

    • @SSorrens
      @SSorrens 8 років тому +1

      hocopolitso Nope, just Women's History Month! But it did help!

    • @hocopolitso
      @hocopolitso  8 років тому +1

      Glad it helped! She's a gem.

  • @anngreenfield6016
    @anngreenfield6016 8 років тому +11

    what a beauty!!

  • @powerplay4real174
    @powerplay4real174 Рік тому +3

    She is real cool 😎

  • @markochoversus842
    @markochoversus842 2 роки тому +4

    Hay veces que la música te abre puertas a universos maravillosos. Qué hermoso encontrar estos documentos multimedia. Gracias, Donda, gracias Kanye

  • @Angiepoohable
    @Angiepoohable 11 років тому +7

    im doing a research paper on her she is amazing

  • @TrpleAgnt2011
    @TrpleAgnt2011 2 роки тому +3

    I like how the electric got switched back on next day. funny how things can work.

  • @honestiwhitworth684
    @honestiwhitworth684 8 років тому +9

    Gwendolyn brooks was a good poet

  • @MuvaMaat
    @MuvaMaat Рік тому +2

    Ancestors brought me here

  • @tamimerriweather1449
    @tamimerriweather1449 9 років тому +11

    In science we have to do a wax musuem and I Gwendolyn Brooks my speech is " hello my name name is Gwendolyn Brooks I was born on June 7 1917 in Kansas I published my first poem in a children's magazine . by 16 I published 15 poems. My work received an award from Midwestern writers conference . I'm writer perhaps because I'm not a talker

  • @falanajerido875
    @falanajerido875 3 роки тому +2

    Very down to earth

  • @ajeetyogaandhealingarts2609
    @ajeetyogaandhealingarts2609 2 роки тому +3

    loved her true ness so much to learn here

    • @andrewsmurphy
      @andrewsmurphy Рік тому

      Hello dear....nice meeting you here...I hope you are having a nice day out there?

  • @crystalgrose
    @crystalgrose 8 років тому +11

    Phenomenal woman! I love Gwendolyn Brooks. What year is this interview? Just curious.

  • @jamesclarkson5100
    @jamesclarkson5100 2 роки тому +2

    One time I wrote a poem here I go.
    You is black is black is you not.
    I said yes I is.

  • @falanajerido875
    @falanajerido875 3 роки тому +2

    I am learning of her

  • @terryallen3237
    @terryallen3237 2 роки тому +2

    I love Haki and Gwen

  • @jamesclarkson5100
    @jamesclarkson5100 2 роки тому +1

    Oh my God please hold on give me a chance give me a chance to explain Andre Leon Tali is it not gonna make me start crying

  • @rochellewarren6219
    @rochellewarren6219 Рік тому +1

    💜💥

  • @JayBenjamin9214
    @JayBenjamin9214 10 років тому +13

    We reeeeeeeeeal cool :D

  • @neginsalehi3449
    @neginsalehi3449 6 років тому +10

    The interviewer reminds me of Ross from FRIENDS

    • @hannabz10
      @hannabz10 5 років тому

      Negin Salehi HAHAHAHAHA YESSSS

  • @lovedichoreo1529
    @lovedichoreo1529 8 років тому +5

    Just saw someone who reminds me of her

  • @RealQuotess.
    @RealQuotess. 2 роки тому +1

    Here from Ye, Can i get a time stamp? For the quote

  • @judithgrace9850
    @judithgrace9850 Рік тому

    RI.P
    Thank you. Mrs. Brooks.
    I left USA in 2021 at 79 for a safe and 70% less expensive in Queretaro.
    Send ALL criminals to Russia etc one way with shaved heads
    Karma never loses an address. and we reap what we sow.

  • @jamesclarkson5100
    @jamesclarkson5100 2 роки тому

    So without wouldn't make me the Nobel peace prize winner since I was 17 but I'm just kidding since we're in Illinois it wasn't was in Sawa's 5 because we all know what happened

  • @schioncalzanzi2019
    @schioncalzanzi2019 2 роки тому +1

    " White literature black literature" why can't there be an adjective that actually describes literature such as great literature or sad literature and so forth? That day will never come authentically if we as a people continue to make such description about literature or any other works. This perhaps only deepens and stretches the boundaries among humans in my humble opinion.

  • @shelliainsworth
    @shelliainsworth 4 роки тому +3

    would the first question you ask a writer of Gwendolyn Brooks caliber be 'do you enjoy working with children?' ugh.

    • @franklinblunt69
      @franklinblunt69 3 роки тому +1

      Why not? Children need appropriate influence & discipline, beside encouragement. Her response was surprising when she mentioned the children spoke about beer.

    • @electrontube
      @electrontube 2 роки тому

      @@franklinblunt69 and pizza, and hair. It was a lovely response.
      she pays attention to children, it says a lot about her.

  • @jamesclarkson5100
    @jamesclarkson5100 2 роки тому

    So basically I have to compete against star Jones Queen Latifah Anne Oprah Winfrey

  • @falanajerido875
    @falanajerido875 3 роки тому

    Margaret d. Never heard of her

  • @vmfleming1
    @vmfleming1 8 років тому +16

    Close your legs please....this is too distracting and so disrespectful on all accounts!

    • @standupG1
      @standupG1 6 років тому +1

      What? I was listening to the questions and the answers. Where is your focus?

    • @andreatucker4377
      @andreatucker4377 5 років тому

      What the f are you talking about

    • @judithgrace9850
      @judithgrace9850 Рік тому

      I felt the same way. Nasty.

  • @jamesclarkson5100
    @jamesclarkson5100 2 роки тому

    What's 5000 - 2400

  • @kikalina5181
    @kikalina5181 3 роки тому

    j

  • @jamesclarkson5100
    @jamesclarkson5100 2 роки тому

    Yall can forget The New York Times of best selling author ice skating because I actually wrote a poem remember that next time you try to tell me Orange background child

  • @jamesclarkson5100
    @jamesclarkson5100 2 роки тому

    My name is famali senegalize

  • @jamesclarkson5100
    @jamesclarkson5100 2 роки тому

    Oh my God do you think that pink Lisa can genuinely afford to be at a nightclub one time Amanda LApoor was upstaged

  • @jamesclarkson5100
    @jamesclarkson5100 2 роки тому

    Oh so then you Got kids then as I'm just gonna proceed

  • @jamesclarkson5100
    @jamesclarkson5100 2 роки тому

    No wonder you're shaking like a Willow tree

  • @josephgms1328
    @josephgms1328 2 роки тому

    She looks like Morgan freeman no offence peace ✌️

  • @franklinblunt69
    @franklinblunt69 3 роки тому

    Gwendolyn Brooks was an influence during my youth; yet, she is still misunderstood & misinterpreted, beside heisted. She promotes respectful humanist ethics & values, individual pride & identity, finding own voice & expression beside reserving & applying own critical faculties, exposes hypocrisy, exploitation, & socio-economic disparities, imposes accountability, ... Miller obviously had an agenda, even after she indicated that people were complex & diverse, but he continued baiting her as representing the so-called black community (he does not get her message & criticisms, aspirations or inspirations), but she is so clever & graceful, I hope that she took him aside for correction. Among aberrant conditions include promoting so-called racial equity (beside supposed diversity or such) that blatantly promotes perceived anti-whiteness, among other superficial identity characteristics, indulges & rife with bigotry, discrimination, prejudice, hypocrisy, exclusiveness, disparity, aberrant ethics, immorality, injustice, abuse, harm, injury, human & civil rights violations, dishonesty, misinforming propaganda, parasitic exploitation, oppression, & irresponsibility without requisite accountability. Angels will become deservedly vengeful, validated & empowered with righteous resolution to confront, condemn, & impose accountability; awful deceitful outright evil hypocrites amid aberrant conditions will unleash the Lucifer Effect upon slandering, persecuting, abusing & harming innocent people.