Poetry is more than just a gateway drug for music. In Chicago, it has its own storied history, complete with legendary writers, eras and iconic works.
The foundation is made up of giants such as Gwendolyn Brooks, who created a legacy for herself as the quintessential Chicago poet during the city’s Black Renaissance Literary Movement from the 1930s through the 1960s. Others from that era include authors Richard Wright, Margaret Walker, Arna Bontemps and Lorraine Hansberry.
Since then, Chicago’s poetic ecosystem has grown exponentially to include its own culture, subgenres, and internationally recognized contemporaries.
Nate Marshall and Eve Ewing are carriers of the proverbial torch for Chicago’s poetry scene, while Jamila Woods, Saba, and Chance the Rapper have all transitioned from their poetic beginnings into successful music careers.