NIKKI GIOVANNI

Recently celebrating her 77th birthday, American poet, writer, educator, commentator and activist Yolande Cornelia “Nikki” Giovanni, Jr. was born June 7th, 1946 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Named as one of Oprah Winfrey’s 25 Living Legends, Nikki Giovanni’s name rings bells in times like today with an urge to provide positive inspiration to African American youth.

Early known as one of the foremost authors in the Black Arts Movement in the late 1960’s, Giovanni is one of the world’s most well-known African American poets. Over the course of her career she has published numerous collections of poetry covering topics ranging from race and social issues to children’s literature.

Her work includes poetry anthologies, nonfiction essays and poetry recordings. Her first self-published volume was Black Feeling, Black Talk in 1968. She is the winner of countless awards including several NAACP Image Awards, Langston Hughes Medal and 20 honorary degrees.

This honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority has taught at Rutgers University, Ohio State University and Virginia Tech, where she is a University Professor.