92_HJ0040

 
                                               LRB9208942RHdv

 1                       HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, The members of  the  Illinois  General  Assembly
 3    remember the life and work of Gwendolyn Brooks, poet laureate
 4    of the State of Illinois; and

 5        WHEREAS,  There  are  buildings  located around the State
 6    Capitol complex that are named for prominent and  influential
 7    people  from the State including the late Governor William G.
 8    Stratton, the late Secretary of State Michael J. Howlett, and
 9    the late Margaret Cross Norton, the  first  director  of  the
10    State Archives; and

11        WHEREAS,  Gwendolyn  Brooks honored the State of Illinois
12    as poet laureate; a chair in Black  Literature  and  Creative
13    Writing  was  established  for  Ms.  Brooks  by Chicago State
14    University a decade  ago;  the  Center  for  African-American
15    literature  at  Western Illinois University is also named for
16    Ms. Brooks; in Harvey, Illinois,  a  junior  high  school  is
17    named in her honor; and

18        WHEREAS,  In the final year of her life, Gwendolyn Brooks
19    was named a living legend by the Library of Congress; and

20        WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Brooks was the first  African-American
21    to win the Pulitzer Prize; and

22        WHEREAS,  The passing of Gwendolyn Brooks was deeply felt
23    by all  who  knew  and  loved  her,  especially  her  family,
24    friends,  fellow  poets,  and  the  people  of  the  State of
25    Illinois; therefore, be it

26        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES   OF   THE
27    NINETY-SECOND  GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
28    SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the State of  Illinois
29    to  rename  the  Illinois  State Library the Gwendolyn Brooks
30    Illinois State Library;  and be it further
 
                            -2-                LRB9208942RHdv
 1        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
 2    presented  to the family of Gwendolyn Brooks and Secretary of
 3    State Jessie White.