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Photo credit: Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post via Getty Images as posted on https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/nikki-giovanni
"Nikki Giovanni is one of America’s foremost poets. Over the course of a long career, Giovanni has published numerous collections of poetry—from her first self-published volume Black Feeling Black Talk (1968) to New York Times best-seller Bicycles: Love Poems (2009)—several works of nonfiction and children’s literature, and multiple recordings, including the Emmy-award nominated The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection (2004). Her most recent publications include Chasing Utopia: A Hybrid (2013) and, as editor, The 100 Best African American Poems (2010). A frequent lecturer and reader, Giovanni has taught at Rutgers University, Ohio State University, and Virginia Tech, where she is a University Distinguished Professor.
Born Yolande Cornelia Giovanni. Jr, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Giovanni was the younger of two daughters in a close-knit family. She gained an intense appreciation for African American culture and heritage from her grandmother, explaining in an interview, “I come from a long line of storytellers.” This early exposure to the power of spoken language influenced Giovanni’s career as a poet, particularly her sophisticated use of vernacular speech. "
Source: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/nikki-giovanni
Born Yolande Cornelia Giovanni. Jr, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Giovanni was the younger of two daughters in a close-knit family. She gained an intense appreciation for African American culture and heritage from her grandmother, explaining in an interview, “I come from a long line of storytellers.” This early exposure to the power of spoken language influenced Giovanni’s career as a poet, particularly her sophisticated use of vernacular speech. "
Source: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/nikki-giovanni
Live Readings
Live Readings
Poems
Poems
BLK History Month
If Black History Month is notviable then wind does notcarry the seeds and drop themon fertile groundrain does notdampen the landand encourage the seedsto rootsun does notwarm the earthand kiss the seedlingsand tell them plain:You’re As Good As Anybody ElseYou’ve Got A Place Here, Too
-from Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea (2002)
If Black History Month is notviable then wind does notcarry the seeds and drop themon fertile groundrain does notdampen the landand encourage the seedsto rootsun does notwarm the earthand kiss the seedlingsand tell them plain:You’re As Good As Anybody ElseYou’ve Got A Place Here, Too
-from Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea (2002)
Dreams
in my younger yearsbefore i learnedblack people aren’tsuppose to dreami wanted to bea raeletand say “dr o wn d in my youn tears”or “tal kin bout tal kin bout”or marjorie hendricks and grind all up against the micand scream“baaaaaby nightandday baaaaaby nightandday”then as i grew and maturedi became more sensible and decided i would settle downand just becomea sweet inspiration
-from Black Feeling, Black Talk, Black Judgment (1968, 1970)
in my younger yearsbefore i learnedblack people aren’tsuppose to dreami wanted to bea raeletand say “dr o wn d in my youn tears”or “tal kin bout tal kin bout”or marjorie hendricks and grind all up against the micand scream“baaaaaby nightandday baaaaaby nightandday”then as i grew and maturedi became more sensible and decided i would settle downand just becomea sweet inspiration
-from Black Feeling, Black Talk, Black Judgment (1968, 1970)
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