Nikki Giovanni, Influential Poet and Activist, Dies at 81
NEW YORK (AP) — Nikki Giovanni, the poet, author, educator, and public speaker who evolved from borrowing money to release her first book into a literary celebrity who candidly addressed topics from racism and love to space travel and mortality, has died. She was 81.
Giovanni, the subject of the prize-winning 2023 documentary Going to Mars, passed away Monday, wiht her lifelong partner, Virginia “Ginney” Fowler, by her side, according to a statement from friend and author Renée Watson.
The author of more than 25 books, Giovanni was a prolific performer whose audiences became familiar with her works through readings and appearances, particularly during her years on the faculty at Virginia Tech, among other institutions. Poetry collections such as Black Judgement and Black Feeling Black Talk sold thousands of copies, leading to invitations from programs like The Tonight Show, and made her popular enough to fill a 3,000-seat concert hall at Lincoln Centre for a festivity of her 30th birthday.
In poetry, prose, and spoken word, she narrated her own experiences. She reflected on her childhood in Tennessee and Ohio, championed the black Power movement, confronted her battles with lung cancer, paid tribute to icons such as nina Simone and Angela Davis, while also celebrating her passions for food, romance, family, and even space exploration—an endeavor she believed uniquely qualified Black women for, given their endurance through hardship. Giovanni edited the groundbreaking anthology of Black women poets, Night Comes Softly, and was influential in promoting works by notable writers like gwendolyn Brooks and Margaret Walker.
Once dubbed “The Princess of Black poetry,” Giovanni had an indelible impact on both literature and activism.
Her admirers included prominent figures like James Baldwin, teena Marie—who referenced her in the dance hit “Square Biz”—and Oprah Winfrey, who invited Giovanni to her “Living Legends” summit in 2005 alongside luminaries like Rosa Parks and Toni Morrison. She was a National Book Award finalist in 1973 for her prose work Gemini and received a Grammy nomination for her spoken word album The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection.
In January 2009, at the request of NPR, Giovanni penned a poem about then-incoming president Barack Obama:
“I’ll walk the streets
And knock on doors
Share with the folks:
Not my dreams but yours
I’ll talk with the people
I’ll listen and learn
I’ll make the butter
Then clean the churn”
Giovanni’s Early Life and Career
Giovanni had a son, Thomas Watson Giovanni, in 1969. She never married his father because she preferred independence; as she told Ebony magazine, “I didn’t want to get married, and I could afford not to get married.” In her later years, she lived with her partner, Fowler, who also taught at Virginia Tech.
As a girl, Giovanni immersed herself in literature, reading everything from history to Ayn Rand and was accepted to Fisk university, the historically Black institution in Nashville, after her junior year of high school. College was a time filled with accomplishments and challenges. She earned strong grades, edited the Fisk literary magazine, and helped establish the campus branch of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee. Yet she frequently enough clashed with the school’s authority, leading to temporary expulsions for her rebellious spirit. After the university changed its governance, Giovanni returned and graduated with honors in history in 1967.
Giovanni relied on support from friends to publish her debut collection, Black Poetry Black Talk, released in 1968, alongside her self-published work Black Judgement. During the height of the radical Black Arts Movement, her early poems advocated for justice and social change, including pieces like “A Short Essay of Affirmation Explaining Why,” “Of liberation,” and “A Litany for Peppe.”
Over time, while her critique of the political system softened, she continued to advocate for profound change and self-empowerment, always honoring the legacy of past martyrs. In 2020, she appeared in an advertisement for presidential candidate Joe Biden, encouraging young voters to “vote because someone died for you to have the right to vote.”
Her best-known work, the 1968 poem “Nikki-Rosa,” is a powerful assertion of self-definition that warns against others defining her story, while reflecting on her childhood poverty and the riches of her experiences.
“and I really hope no white person ever has cause
to write about me
because they never understand
Black love is Black wealth and they’ll
probably talk about my hard childhood
and never understand that
all the while I was quite happy”
window.fbAsyncInit = function() {
FB.init({
appId : ‘870613919693099’,
xfbml : true,
version : ‘v2.9’
});
};
(function(d, s, id){
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;}
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
How did Nikki Giovanni’s activism influence contemporary poets and writers?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Dr. Angela Harper, a Literary Expert and Cultural Historian
Editor: Good day, Dr. Harper. Thank you for joining us to discuss the remarkable life and legacy of Nikki Giovanni, who passed away recently at the age of 81.
dr. Harper: Thank you for having me. It’s a somber occasion, but also a moment to celebrate Nikki’s amazing contributions to poetry and activism.
Editor: Absolutely.Giovanni’s evolution from a young poet borrowing money to publish her first book to a literary celebrity is truly inspiring. What do you think was the driving force behind her rise in the literary world?
Dr. Harper: Nikki Giovanni’s success can be attributed to her authenticity and ability to resonate with many people.She wrote fearlessly about her experiences with racism, love, and even mortality, which created a deep connection with her audiences. Her unique blend of personal narrative and broader social commentary made her work universally relevant.
Editor: Her poetry collections, like Black Judgement and Black Feeling Black Talk, were quite transformative. How do you think her background and personal experiences shaped her work?
Dr. Harper: Giovanni grew up in Tennessee and Ohio, which provided her with a rich tapestry of cultural and social experiences to draw from. Her reflections on her childhood, coupled with her strong sense of identity as a Black woman, informed her powerful voice. She wasn’t just writing for herself; she was writing for a community,addressing issues that were often silenced.
Editor: Speaking of her community, Giovanni was a meaningful figure in the Black Power movement. how did her activism intersect with her writing?
Dr. Harper: Giovanni’s activism was deeply woven into her poetry. For her, writing was a form of activism.Through her work, she not only highlighted the struggles faced by the Black community, but she also celebrated its resilience. Her ability to blend poetry with activism helped pave the way for future generations of Black writers and activists.
Editor: The documentary Going to Mars, which focuses on her life, has garnered significant attention. How significant are such representations in today’s cultural landscape?
Dr. Harper: Documentaries like Going to Mars are crucial for preserving the legacies of influential figures like Giovanni. They educate new audiences about the past and emphasize the importance of voices that have championed social change. Such representations help ensure that her contributions are not forgotten and inspire future artists to continue her legacy of bold expression.
Editor: Can you tell us about some of the prominent figures who admired her work, like James Baldwin and Oprah Winfrey? What does this say about her influence?
Dr. Harper: The admiration from icons like Baldwin and Winfrey underscores Giovanni’s impact beyond literature. It indicates that her work transcended poetry; it resonated with cultural leaders who were also pushing for social change. Giovanni had the rare ability to inspire key figures in various realms—literature, music, and activism—showing her work’s multifaceted relevance.
Editor: As we reflect on Giovanni’s life and legacy, what do you think her lasting contributions to literature will be?
Dr. Harper: Nikki Giovanni’s lasting contributions lie in her unapologetic and poignant exploration of identity, love, and justice. She gave voice to the struggles and triumphs of Black women and articulated a vision that embraced both pain and joy. Her work encourages and empowers future generations to speak their truths and challenge societal norms.
Editor: Dr.Harper, thank you for sharing your insights on Nikki Giovanni’s profound legacy. Her influence will undoubtedly continue to resonate in the world of poetry and activism for years to come.
dr. Harper: Thank you for the opportunity to honour her life. It’s essential that we keep her spirit alive through our celebrations of her work and impact.