Source: Photograph by Courtesy Rada Studio/HBO / Photograph by Courtesy Rada Studio/HBO
Nikki Giovanni is a name synonymous with black arts, literary excellence, and social justice. Known for her passionate voice and unapologetic advocacy, Giovanni has spent several decades using her art to uplift and challenge the world around her—dubbing her the “princess of black poetry”.
Giovanni emerged as a leading voice during the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and ’70s—a period that celebrated black creativity, black pride, and political resistance. Her early poetry collections, such as Black Feeling, Black Talk (1968) and Black Judgement (1968) resonated deeply with the African-American community. Giovanni’s work fearlessly tackled themes of racism, inequality, love, and the power of community, making her a literary beacon for those fighting for justice.
As her writing career took off, Giovanni became a regular guest on Soul!, a Black arts and culture talk show on WNET. Her conversation with the acclaimed writer James Baldwin came on the heels of being named “Woman of the Year” by both Ebony magazine and Mademoiselle (as written by NPR).
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE.
Nikki Giovanni has published more than 30 books, including poetry, essays, and children’s literature. She also inspired new generations of thinkers and creatives as a University professor at VirginIa Tech for over 35 years.
Her accolades over the years include seven NAACP Image Awards, the Langston Hughes Medal, recognition as one of Oprah Winfrey’s 25 “Living Legends” (2014), an Emmy for her documentary Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project, and many more. In addition, she held 27 honorary degrees from various colleges and universities and an honorary membership from Delta Sigma Theta sorority incorporated.
Related: 13 Stars You Might Not Know Are Delta Sigma Theta Members
STAY INFORMED! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER!
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty
READ MORE STORIES ON BLACKAMERICAWEB.COM:
D'Wayne Wiggins, a founding member of the legendary soul/R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, has died at 64 following a battle with bladder cancer. Read More
As we’ve come to understand year after year, day after day even, death is unfortunately an inevitable part of life. Still, as much of a fact as that may be, the blow of experiencing loss never gets any easier, nor Read More
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the removal of a large “Black Lives Matter” painting near the White House, citing distractions from federal job cuts as a priority. Bowser faced criticism from Black Lives Matter activists for her performative actions Read More
During his address before Congress Tuesday, Donald Trump lauded Elon Musk as the head of DOGE, contradicting previous White House claims. Read More