Nikki Giovanni Passes Away at 81
Iconic poet and activist Nikki Giovanni died at 81 from lung cancer complications.
Pioneer in Black Arts Movement
Giovanni shaped the Black Arts Movement with legends like Amiri Baraka and Audre Lorde.
Born Yolande Cornelia Giovanni Jr.
Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Giovanni overcame a tumultuous childhood.
Early Life Challenges
Left home at 15 to escape family struggles, later excelling in academics.
First Works in 1968
Self-published "Black Feeling Black Talk" and "Black Judgment" in 1968.
Courageous Choices
Giovanni had a son as a single mom, saying, "I could afford not to get married."
TV Highlights with James Baldwin
Had a famous televised conversation with Baldwin, hailed as iconic.
Professor at Virginia Tech
Joined Virginia Tech in 1987, gaining tenure and marrying Virginia Fowler.
Award-Winning Legacy
Earned 7 NAACP Image Awards, 31 honorary doctorates, and wrote 30+ books.
1.
Final Book Coming in 2025
"The New Book: Poems, Letters, Blurbs, and Things" will release posthumously.
28 Years Later: Chilling Trailer Teases
a Haunting New Apocalypse
Learn more