Tuesday, February 9, 2010

IL Poet Laureate's home to recieve landmark designation

This is the home of poet Gwendolyn Brooks and it may be receive recognition as a landmark along with two places that were homes to black writers. Story from CBS2Chicago:
Some of the most noted African American writers in the world grew up in Chicago. It's a source of pride the historical committee of the Chicago City Council recognized Monday. CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports the homes of Lorraine Hansberry, Richard Wright and Gwendolyn Brooks are on the way to becoming designated landmarks.
...
The award -winning play, "A Raisin in the Sun", was written by South Sider, Lorraine Hansberry. It was based on her family' s experience when they moved into an Englewood two flat, which back then, was predominantly white.

Darrell Brewer rents the apartment at 6140 S. Rhodes that the Hansberrys once owned. It was here, according to history, that 7-year-old Lorraine was almost hit by a brick thrown through the window from an angry white mob.

That's a slice of Chicago history some members of the City Council want to preserve. So on Monday, the Committee on Historical Landmark Preservation proposed an ordinance designating the Hansberry home, a Chicago landmark.
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Another building, at 4831 S. Vincennes, destined for landmark status, is the home of author Richard Wright. It was here he wrote the critically acclaimed novel, "Native Son."
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The home of Illinois Poet Laureate, Gwendolyn Brooks, is another home on the landmark list. Brooks wrote more than 20 books, many of them when she lived at 7428 S. Evans.

"It just makes me feel so good to know that she was recognized the world over and I lived next door," said former neighbor Norma Jackson.
The vote on the landmark status is expected at a meeting of the city council on Wednesday.

BTW, I wrote about this home earlier so landmark designation for Brooks' home isn't exactly old news. I used Google Streetview to find this house but to no avail. The pic provided above was from a screen shot of a video story from CBS2.

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