Film screening of Brooks People with post film Q & A with the filmmaker
Photos from the event: Flickr
Brooks People
Brooks People explores the life, the legacy and the impact of Gwendolyn Brooks, the first Black person to win a Pulitzer Prize. This short documentary features Dr. Cornell West, Nikki Giovanni, Dr. Haki Madhubuti, Joyce Owens, H.A.G.L. and of course Nora Brooks Blakely, the daughter of Gwendolyn Brooks. Rare footage of Brooks from 1966 and footage featuring Talib Kweli, Common, Kanye West, and commentary from his mother and Brooks’ colleague Dr. Donda West will also be included. Additional footage includes Ruby Dee reading Brooks’ poem on Emmett Till. Modern and vintage media skillfully weave the story of a Black woman, who came from humble beginnings to rise to iconic status. Brooks was outspoken and unflinching in her critique of Black life and race relations, and she has impacted many generations of writers, poets, and artists. Careful attention is paid to the current relevance of Brooks’ work by looking at the connection between historic efforts to gain civil rights and modern movements to sustain those rights, like Black Lives Matter.