Nikki Giovanni
Nikki Giovanni
Yolande Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni, Jr.is an American poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator. One of the world's most well-known African-American poets, her work includes poetry anthologies, poetry recordings, and nonfiction essays, and covers topics ranging from race and social issues to children's literature. She has won numerous awards, including the Langston Hughes Medal, the NAACP Image Award, and has been nominated for a Grammy Award, for her Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection. Additionally, she has recently been named as one of...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth7 June 1943
CityKnoxville, TN
CountryUnited States of America
If everybody became a poet the world would be much better. We would all read to each other.
VISIBILITY - You've got to find a way to make people know you're there
We are less lonely when we connect. Art is connection.
The trip to Mars can only be understood through Black Americans. I say, the trip to Mars can only be understood through Black Americans.
I always like summer best
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
The catchword I use with my classes is: The authority of the writer always overcomes the skepticism of the reader.
A lot of people refuse to do things...
Once you know who you are, you don't have to worry anymore.
Favorite poems are like favorite children. We definitely have them but we never tell as the others would have their feelings hurt.
It's really just interesting to ask: why not? And see where that takes me.
Follow your image as far as you can no matter how useless you think it is. Push yourself.
Black Poetry is not for Black People...it is for everybody
I spend a lot of time learning about bird watching.