Gwendolyn+Bennett

=Gwendolyn Bennett by Addison Everett =

Gwendolyn Bennett was born on July 8, 1902. She had a nomadic childhood in Texas and was always very bright. She was a very talented graphic artist and also a poet. In some ways this could be considered a core-to-core conflict as she was very talented in both arts and sometimes had to choose between the two. In her high school years Gwendolyn won first place in a school art contest and wrote her school play. After high school she went on to college at C olumbia University and Pratt Institute where she continued to develop both of her talents. In November of 1923 she wrote the poem “Heritage” which was published in several magazines. Also in 1923 she wrote “Nocturne” and in 1926 she wrote "Hatred".

Gwendolyn Bennett often used themes of racial pride, African music, and African dance. These themes show a part of the people’s feelings during the Harlem Renaissance. This was a time for them to not only blend and please the white crowd but also to express their feelings and be proud of their African-American culture. Gwendolyn really influenced the Harlem Renaissance be writing about community pride as this truly was a time for the community to come together and again be proud of their past. From 1938 to 1941 she directed the Harlem Community Art Center and directed the development of the George Washington Carver Community School. Through all of the work she did she truly nurtured the talent in young African American artists.

**Heritage**
I want to see the slim palm-trees, Pulling at the clouds With little pointed fingers....

I want to see lithe Negro girls, Etched dark against the sky While sunset lingers.

I want to hear the silent sands, Singing to the moon Before the Sphinx-still face....

I want to hear the chanting Around a heathen fire Of a strange black race.

I want to breathe the Lotus flow'r, Sighing to the stars With tendrils drinking at the Nile....

I want to feel the surging Of my sad people's soul Hidden by a minsrel-smile.

In this poem Gwendolyn talks about Africa and it gives several images of what life might be life to live there. At the beginning it talks about peaceful images such as seeing the palm-trees and watching little girls play will the sunset fades away. Bennett really sets Africa out to be a wonderful and peaceful place that she wants to be. IT goes on to talk about some of the experiences that she might have were she to be in Africa. Things like singing to the moon and chanting around a fire. In some ways it's as though she is drawn to her past and she wants to take part in it. She wants to be a part of everything she has always learned about and through this the pride she has of her heritage is shown.

Another part of this poem that stands out is the way that she talks about African people. She first refers to them as Negro, which is a common term for the time. However her next reference of the race is "a strange black race" (12). After thinking this term has been interpreted as the feelings of the white culture towards African and African American people. They were different and in many ways treated different. This could have been what Gwendolyn meant when she talked about a strange black race. Along the lines of white people pushing African Americans down to a lower class Bennett talks about the people having sad souls. After several years of not being good enough and not having the chance to succeed Gwendolyn Bennett was given a chance and in some ways her poetry and art may have been her way to give back to her people and to her heritage.

Works Cited  Wilson, Sonya L.. "The Harlem Renaissance and Female Poets - African American Lit." //BellaOnline -- The Voice of Women//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. . Govan, Sandra Y.. "Gwendolyn Bennett's Life and Career." //Welcome to English Â« Department of English, College of LAS, University of Illinois//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. . "Gwendolyn Bennett." //The Pennsylvania Center for the Book//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. . "Heritage - Written by Harlem Renaissance Poet Gwendolyn BennettÂ… Talented lady if I may say soÂ… "Negro Poetry"." //Black Poetry, Black Poets, Black Poems, Black Poetry, African American Poetry, African American Poems, Def Poetry, African American Poets, Def Jam Poetry, Black Writer, Black Author, Ghetto Love Poem, Urban Poetry, Spoken Word, Hip Hop Poetry, Friendship//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. .

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