Over the course of a career that would see her become the first Black writer ever awarded the Pulitzer Prize, Gwendolyn Brooks travelled the currents of African American History. Born in 1917 in Topeka, Kansas, Brooks’ family followed The Great Migration to Chicago, during which hundreds of thousands of Black people from the South moved to the North in search of greater opportunities. Having published her first poem at age thirteen, Brooks’ work shifted over the course of the 1960s from a personal, private preoccupation with local community life to public, political questions of Black politics and identity. In this course, participants will discover Brooks’ expansive body of work, situating it within its historical context and the influences that shaped her aesthetic choices. Core questions guiding our discussion will include: In what ways are language and identity connected, and what role do these connections play in the development of the poetic voice? How are these connections reflected or disrupted in Brooks’ poetic works? Should poets feel obliged to take up socio-political causes? If so, who gets to decide what constitutes a legitimate political cause and the nature of the poets’ obligation? Finally, how does Brooks’ body of work reflect her changing responses to these questions? Alongside Brooks, works by Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson, Gwendolyn B. Bennett, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, and more will be considered.
This course is held on Zoom. Please make sure to have the Zoom application installed before the first class.
Standard Tuition: $160.00
New Participant Tuition: $115.00
Day:Â Wednesdays
Time:Â 6:15 - 8:15 PM
Location:Â ZoomÂ
Course leaders:Â Imogen Brian, Claire EnglishÂ
First session:Â January 13 2027
Course length:Â 6 weeks
Degree credit:Â 1.5
Maximum number of participants: 16
Please note that the Thomas More Institute does not allow participants to audit courses for free.
About the Thomas More Institute: The Thomas More Institute has been providing adults with stimulating lifelong learning opportunities in Montreal since 1945. A secular and non-profit academic institution, TMI offers an ever-evolving choice of university-level courses in the liberal arts, including discussion-based courses, lecture-style courses, writing workshops, and more. Our courses are held in small groups, offering an alternative learning environment to that of traditional university courses. You can take individual courses that interest you, or work toward a structured bachelor of arts degree or comprehensive certificate that involve additional coursework. Share Your Curiosity at TMI!
About course fees: all prices displayed include Tuition and the Administrative fee.
Leaders of another course, and anyone else wishing to register by phone, should call (514) 935-9585 to register.
All course participants registering should read and abide by the Thomas More Institute Code of Conduct.
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