We Real Cool

At heart, I am a writer. I always have been, and I always will be. Every year we celebrate Black History Month, and we pay tribute to the culture and individuals that have come before us. One person I would like to celebrate is Gwendolyn Brooks, who is one of my favorite writers. She was a great poet and was the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize, which is a great honor.  She was also a “poetry consultant” to the Library of Congress, the first African American to hold that position. She wrote many poems and some of her work reflected the Civil Rights Movement. One of my favorite poems by Brooks is called “We Real Cool.” The poem isn’t long, but it has a powerful theme that revolves around rebellion, authority, taking risk, and living life to the fullest. The poem is about a group of teenagers who skip school, stay out late, get in trouble, and live fast. The poem was written in 1959 during the Civil Rights Movement, an important time for Blacks when rights and freedom were at stake. What I love about the poem is the structure, the rhyme scheme, the length, and...