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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to recognize the work and accomplishments 
4of Tyehimba Jess; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Tyehimba Jess grew up in Detroit, Michigan and 
6started writing poetry at the age of 16; when he was 18, he won 
7second prize for poetry at an NAACP academic competition; he 
8enrolled in the University of Chicago to study Public Policy; 
9however, when taking classes with poet and scholar Sterling 
10Plumpp, who became his mentor,  he realized his real passion was 
11for poetry; he graduated from the University of Chicago in 1991 
12with a bachelor's degree in public policy; he earned his Master 
13of Fine Arts from New York University in 2004; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Tyehimba Jess is the author of two books of 
15poetry, Leadbelly and Olio; his inspiration for writing stems 
16from his desire to convey historical themes through expression 
17and performance; and
  
 
  
18    WHEREAS, Tyehimba Jess has won many awards, including the 
192017 Pulitzer Prize for Olio,  an Illinois Arts Council 
20Fellowship in Poetry, the Chicago Sun-Times Poetry Award, and a 
21Whiting Fellowship; his work has appeared in Soul Fires: Young 
22Black Men on Love and Violence, Obsidian III: Literature in the 
 
 
HR0815- 2 -LRB100 17986 ALS 33171 r

1African Diaspora, and Power Lines: Ten Years of Poetry from 
2Chicago's Guild Complex; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Tyehimba Jess teaches poetry and fiction at the 
4College of Staten Island of the City University of New York and 
5is the faculty adviser for Caesura, the college's literary arts 
6magazine; therefore, be it
  
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
8HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
9recognize the contributions Tyehimba Jess has made to the 
10literary world and to the people of Illinois, and we 
11congratulate him on his 2017 Pulitzer Prize; and be it further
  
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
13presented to Tyehimba Jess as a symbol of our esteem and 
14respect.