In a cherished conversation, celebrated poet Nikki Giovanni reflects on her profound influence within the Black Arts Movement and her resilience post-Virginia Tech tragedy. She explores the historical role of women in unifying enslaved communities, and the healing power of poetry in social change. Giovanni also candidly discusses love's complexities and the essence of aging, urging listeners to embrace their personal journeys while honoring the resilience of the Black community. Her warmth and wisdom continue to inspire, even in tumultuous times.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Name Change
Nikki Giovanni's given name was Yolanda, but she legally changed it to Nikki after her mother passed.
She felt it was disrespectful to change her name while her mother was alive.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Family Foodies
Giovanni's family were foodies, especially her grandmother, whose cooking she greatly admired.
She recounts her grandmother's resourceful cooking style, including making greens and preparing live chickens.
insights INSIGHT
Existentialist Approach
Giovanni views herself as an existentialist, living in the present.
She prioritizes using her intelligence to serve humanity.
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This collection brings together poems from Nikki Giovanni's early works, including 'Black Feeling Black Talk', 'Black Judgement', 'Re: Creation', 'My House', 'The Women and the Men', 'Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day', and 'Those Who Ride the Night Winds'. These poems, which emerged during the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s, are stirring, provocative, and resonant, showcasing Giovanni's indelible literary voice that continues to resonate today.
Black feeling, Black talk, Black judgement
Nikki Giovanni
This book is one of the single most important volumes of modern African-American poetry. It includes Nikki Giovanni's first published poems, which were released in two collections: *Black Feeling, Black Talk* (1968) and *Black Judgement* (1969). The poems embody the fearless passion and spirited wit for which Giovanni is beloved and revered. They address themes of racial injustice, Black power, and personal identity, and include masterpieces such as 'Nikki-Rosa' and 'Knoxville, Tennessee'. The collection made Giovanni famous in 1968 and continues to inspire and enthrall readers with its commanding voice and poignant observations.
Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea
Nikki Giovanni
Nikki Giovanni's "Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea" is a collection of poems that explores themes of race, identity, and social justice. The poems are characterized by their powerful imagery, rhythmic language, and unflinching honesty. Giovanni's work often celebrates Black culture and challenges societal norms. The collection includes poems that address historical events and personal experiences, reflecting on the complexities of Black life in America. The book's impact extends beyond literature, influencing artists and activists alike.
The delightful Nikki Giovanni died on Dec. 9. It is a joy and a solace to relisten to this beloved conversation she had with Krista in 2016 – to experience her signature mix of high seriousness, sweeping perspective, and insistent pleasure. Her words and her spirit feel, if anything, more necessary now. In the 1960s, she was a poet of the Black Arts Movement that nourished civil rights. She became a professor at Virginia Tech, where she called forth beauty and courage after the 2007 shooting there — a precursor to violence that has become all too familiar in American life in the intervening years. And she was an adored voice to a new generation — an enthusiastic elder to all — at home in her body and in the world, even while she saw and exulted in the beyond of this tumultuous age of her lifetime.
On Being with Krista Tippett 
