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oet, author and playwright Angela Jackson (Weinberg ’77) became the fifth Illinois poet laureate this past November. Born in Greenville, Mississippi, Jackson moved with her family to Chicago at the age of one, and has spent most of her life in the area. The Daily spoke with Jackson about her aspirations as poet laureate, her writing career and her years at Northwestern.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
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The Daily: You’ve said that poetry is powerful, able to restore hearts and lift spirits. What issues do you hope to address as Illinois poet laureate? Jackson: COVID-19 is the common issue that unites us all throughout the state. I understand that the opioid problem is a real problem downstate. So that’s another issue. And (I hope to send) ambassadors of poetry to rehab centers, as well as schools and community centers and prisons and senior citizen centers.
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The Daily: Gwendolyn Brooks served as Illinois poet laureate from 1968 to her death in 2000. You’ve called her your role model as a poet. Why does she inspire you? Jackson: She was the first Black person to win a Pulitzer Prize of any kind, and she was the first Black woman to be the poet laureate of Illinois. Gwendolyn Brooks as an artist has influenced me because she was so devoted to looking at African American people, Black people, in an authentic way and portraying us in the fullness of our humanity. People tend to see Black people in stereotypes, but she, through-
