Western Illinois University

Gwendolyn Brooks encouraged us all to stand up for ourselves and be dignified and active. I wanted the Cultural Center for Black Students to be named after Gwendolyn Brooks. I succeeded in that. That was in 1970. Rudy Womack was instrumental to the Cultural Center’s opening up to all on-campus and the community. Ms. Brooks would make an annual visit to Western Illinois University. She never came alone. She would bring all kinds of cultural artist. She would not accept any fee; she would take her people and whoever I deemed out to eat. That was one of the perks of being a student leader. Ms. Brooks would also bring people from Johnson’s Publication, but never wanted to be made anything special, although she was very special to us. If you were in Chicago would stop by to see her.