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Nikki  Giovanni

Nikki Giovanni

Poet, Educator & Best-Selling Author

Nikki Giovanni

Poet, Educator & Best-Selling Author

Biography

Nikki Giovanni has written more than thirty volumes of poetry and prose, including several children’s books. Among the latter is Rosa, awarded the coveted Caldecott Medal. Her adult poetry books range from such early volumes as Black Feeling Black Talk/Black Judgement and My House to more recent ones such as Bicycles, Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea, and Make Me Rain

Giovanni is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including Woman of the Year Awards from both Ebony and Mademoiselle magazines; Governor’s Awards from both Tennessee and Virginia; keys to more than two dozen cities; some 31 Honorary Doctorates; and, most recently, the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize from the Poetry Foundation. She has also recorded several award-winning spoken-word albums, among them Truth Is On Its Way and The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection. 

Currently, a documentary about Giovanni has received high honors from Sundance and has premiered in New York, London, and Berlin. Giovanni recently retired from Virginia Tech as University Distinguished Professor Emerita.

Speech Topics

Tennessean by Birth; Poet by Choice

Human by the Grace of God: A View of Diversity

Diversity as Art: Art Is Diversity

Racism 101

Testimonials