Nikki Giovanni, renowned poet, activist, and educator, passed away on Monday in Blacksburg, Virginia. Her wife confirmed that she passed away as a result of complications from lung cancer at 81 years old.
Yolande Cornelia Giovanni Jr. was born in 1943 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Giovanni became a prominent figure of the Black Arts Movement in the 1960s, with her poetry about race, politics, love, and gender speaking to a powerful, accessible message that made her one of the most influential voices of her generation.
Giovanni’s literary career ran more than five decades as her first collections in 1968 were Black Feeling, Black Talk, and Black Judgement. She was to write over 30 books from poetry, essays, and children’s literature. These included works like the cultic poem “Ego-Tripping,” all glorifying Black identity and resiliency.
As if the writings weren’t enough, Giovanni was a sparkling public intellectual. She stunned audiences with her dynamic stage presence and brought sold-out crowds to such venues as Lincoln Center and the Philharmonic Theater in the early 1970s. She wrote for television lectured in public settings and even worked with other artists. In short, Giovanni became an icon of sorts.
In addition, Giovanni was a very successful educator who taught at Virginia Tech from 1987 up to her retirement in 2022. Her career has always shown resilience, such as how she reflected on the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, saying the focus needs to be more on creation than destruction.
Even as Giovanni battled cancer multiple times, her work continued to inspire. Recently she performed at the Louis Armstrong House and was preparing a new poetry collection and memoir.
Survived by her wife, Virginia Fowler; son, Thomas Giovanni; granddaughter, Kai Giovanni; and extended family, the legacy of this poet, teacher, and advocate for justice will continue to shape future generations.
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