June 6, 2026
NOTO
Join ArtsConnect to celebrate the one and only Ms. Gwendolyn Brooks and her birth in Topeka, Kansas, on June 7, 1917. Hosted by poet, historian and Brooks’ protege, Quraysh Ali Lansana alongside Topeka poets Annette Hope Billings, Dennis Etzel, Jr., and Huascar Medina.
Ms. Brooks devoted much of her writing to the idea of speaking truth to power – of addressing global challenges amplified by the written word and with her signature understanding of how her work, a proxy for the voices of everyday people, can empower us all to push collectively against forces much larger than ourselves individually.
This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments as well as beer, wine and soft drinks will be served. We appreciate your RSVP so that we can have an accurate estimate for planning.
Gwendolyn Brooks (1917–2000), a luminous force in American literature and the first Black author to be honored with a Pulitzer Prize, began her journey right here in Topeka, Kansas. While she moved to Chicago as an infant and became an “organic Chicagoan,” her technical mastery and vivid portrayals of the everyday lives of urban Black Americans in Bronzeville continued to resonate both at home and abroad. Her work serves as a powerful testament to the struggles and triumphs of our communities, inviting us all to witness the extraordinary in the seemingly ordinary.
