Nikki Giovanni, the renowned poet, civil rights legend, and educator who empowered generations with her fearless words and unwavering advocacy for Black America, died on Monday. She was 81.
Yolande Cornelia “Nikki” Giovanni was born on June 7, 1943, in the “Negro Wing” of Knoxville General Hospital in Tennessee to parents Yolande Cornelia Sr. and Jones “Gus” Giovanni.
She later enrolled at the historically Black Fisk University in Nashville in 1960. At Fisk, she joined the Writer’s Workshop, a space that fostered her creativity and connected her with other aspiring Black writers such as Dudley Randall, Margaret Walker, and Amiri Baraka.
“At Fisk, she found her voice — a voice that would go on to inspire the world to dream with courage, to fight with purpose, and to love without constraint,” said Fisk officials in a statement. “Through her poetry, she wove stories of Black resilience, beauty and liberation. Her spirit is forever etched into the soul at Fisk, an eternal light guiding us toward justice, creativity, and authenticity.”
Nikki Giovanni
Giovanni rose to national prominence during the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, publishing her first poetry collection Black Feeling, Black Talk in 1970. Her poetry embodied the spirit of the civil rights struggle, celebrating Black identity and perseverance. She was also known for her bold commentary on racial and social issues, earning her a reputation as one of the foremost voices of her generation.
She taught for 35 years in the English Department at Virginia Tech where she mentored dozens of students.
