Happy Birthday to Nikki Giovanni
Nikki Giovanni is a cherished American poet, writer, commentator activist and educator. She became prominent in the 60s and 70s. A mother, a teacher, a civil rights advocate, her poetry reflects the voice of her generation as she discusses insights from her own consciousness awakening, its evolution, and her personal experience as an African-American. She writes in an informal style and has written books for adults and children alike. A graduate of her grandfather’s alma mater, Fisk University, she currently teaches at Virginia Tech where she is a University Distinguished Professor.
Giovanni has received numerous awards for her work including the keys to two dozen American cities, multiple NAACP Image Awards (the most by any individual), the Langston Hughes Award for Distinguished Contributions to Arts and Letters, the Rosa Parks Women of Courage Award and over twenty honorary degrees from colleges and universities. Her literary accolades include the American Book Award, the Caldecott Honor Book Award, the Carl Sandburg Literary Award, the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award, the Tennessee Writer’s Award, and the East Tennessee Writers Hall of Fame Award. She is one of Oprah Winfrey’s 25 Living Legends and continues to create moving works to this day. A multitalented creative, Giovanni also sets her writing to music, writes children’s literature, and nonfiction publications as well.
Giovanni has received numerous awards for her work including the keys to two dozen American cities, multiple NAACP Image Awards (the most by any individual), the Langston Hughes Award for Distinguished Contributions to Arts and Letters, the Rosa Parks Women of Courage Award and over twenty honorary degrees from colleges and universities. Her literary accolades include the American Book Award, the Caldecott Honor Book Award, the Carl Sandburg Literary Award, the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award, the Tennessee Writer’s Award, and the East Tennessee Writers Hall of Fame Award. She is one of Oprah Winfrey’s 25 Living Legends and continues to create moving works to this day. A multitalented creative, Giovanni also sets her writing to music, writes children’s literature, and nonfiction publications as well.
We honor her work and accomplishments and in celebration of her birthday on June 7th, we acknowledge her continuing contribution to African American culture.
Read her poem The American Vision of Abraham Lincoln AT THIS MOMENT.
Read more about Nikki Giovanni at her website.
