Nikki Giovanni (1943-2024): Trailblazing Poet And Activist

and if they cry i hope their eyes fall out

and a million maggots that had made up their brains

crawl from the empty holes and devour the flesh

that covered the evil that passed itself off as a person

that i probably tried

to love

Nikki Giovanni, The Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni: 1968–1998

Renowned poet, author and activist, dubbed as  “the Princess of Black Poetry”, Nikki Giovanni has died aged 81.

Giovanni passed away peacefully on Monday in the presence of her partner Virginia "Ginney" Fowler, said her friend and author Renée Watson in her statement to The Times. She had been battling her third cancer diagnosis.

The iconic figure who spent five decades shaping conversations around Black identity and social justice leaves behind a legacy that will inspire generations.

Yolande Cornelia Giovanni Jr, born in 1943 in Knoxville, Tennessee, grew up in Lincoln Heights, an all-Black neighbourhood in Cincinnati, Ohio. Nicknamed “Nikki” by her older sister, Gary Ann, she became a leading voice in the Black Arts Movement and an advocate for civil rights. 

After graduating from Fisk University, Nikki Giovanni published her first book, Black Feeling Black Talk (1967). Her second book, Black Judgment (1968), quickly made her a leading voice in the Black Arts Movement.

Nikki Giovanni joined Virginia Tech in 1987 as a professor of English, teaching writing, poetry, and literature. In 1999, she was named a University Distinguished Professor while continuing to publish essays, children's books, and poetry collections.

Over 52 years, Nikki Giovanni has written 19 poetry collections for readers of all ages, drawing inspiration from her grandmother, neighbours, and everyday people. Known for their accessibility, warmth, and emotional impact, her poems explore themes of gender, social justice, and Black family life. Giovanni's personal experiences, such as her close bond with her mother and her battle with lung cancer in the 1990s, deeply influenced her writing. Her works provide a window into the African American experience. In 1971, she published her autobiography, Gemini, which was a finalist for the 1973 National Book Award in Biography. In 2005 Oprah Winfrey named her one of 25 living legends.

Nikki Giovanni is the subject of the documentary Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project, which celebrates her life and legacy as a poet and activist. Winning an Emmy last year, the film blends memories, historical moments, live readings, and innovative visuals to showcase her impact as an artist and social commentator. It delves into her Afrofuturist and feminist philosophy and family connections, capturing her distinctive voice and vision.

In a media interview, Giovanni said the inspiration for the documentary came from drawing parallels between space exploration and Black people's experiences. She compared astronauts journeying from Earth to uncharted areas like Mars to Black people navigating unknown spaces, surviving and thriving through challenges, and bringing love and goodness along the way.