(Poets.org)In 1949 Annie Allen (a series of poems about growing up a black girl in Chicago) was published and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1950. Gwendolyn Brooks she would become the first African American women to receive the prize in poetry. He quickly realized that his book would create several additional opportunities for his life. President John Kennedy invited her to read the book at a Library of Congress poetry festival in 1962. (Poemhunter.com) Gwendolyn Brooks would use her talent and writing experience to help others, especially college students . In the early 1960s, Brooks took advantage of a teaching opportunity by becoming a creative writing teacher. Brooks has taught at several institutions including Chicago State University, Columbia University, and the University of Wisconsin. Brooks continued to write poetry, and further recognition would come after he published "In The Mecca," which would later be nominated for a National Book Award in poetry..