Nikki Giovanni, an inspiration to many for the wisdom and knowledge she passed down as an educator, poet, mother, lecturer and activist, passed away at the age of 81 on Dec. 9, 2024. Giovanni was born in Knoxville, Tennessee in June of 1943, during the later years of World War II. It was a time of rising racial tensions fueled by Jim Crow laws, segregation, black codes and racial violence. Giovanni’s upbringing inspired her commitment to the Civil Rights Movement and the advancement of people of color.
Giovanni’s poems oftentimes eluminates her experiences as well as the experiences of many other African Americans, discussing subjects such as the carefree wonders of adolescence, the theme of her 1994 poem “Knoxville, Tennessee.” The racist bigotry of the American public and government against African American communities is a theme featured in works such as “Black Power” and “Black Judgement.” In her 1968 poem Nikki-Rosa and 1976 Ego Tripping (there may be a reason why) Giovanni professes the unique beauties of being black.
Giovanni, an incredible orator, gave many notable lectures and speeches and spoke powerfully in numerous conversations throughout her tenure at Virginia Tech. Some of her most impactful words were spoken during the 46th Annual MLK Day Celebration, the 2007 Virginia Tech Convocation and a viral video of a conversation between Giovanni and James Baldwin.
From her wise and experienced background, Giovanni spoke charismatically, intellectually and proudly, but also softly like a nurturing grandmother who only wants the best for her most important audience, her grandchildren. With an emphasis on uplifting the youth, Giovanni encourages use to effect change and maintain the same fighting spirit of her generation.
In the 2012 Convocation Memorial for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Giovanni spoke on the lack of recognition for the Pullman Porters, a group of African American men who played a significant role in propelling the Civil Rights Movement. Nikki Giovanni emphasized the Pullman Porters to remind audiences of the breadth of the Civil Rights Movement, which was driven by the everyday efforts of countless African Americans whose work, sacrifice and resilience laid the foundation for social change.
In the 2007 Virginia Tech Convocation, Giovanni spoke with strength and wisdom to the faculty and student body in the aftermath of the tragic shooting that claimed the lives of 32 people. Her words helped them process the sorrow and bestowed upon listeners the knowledge of how to move forward with resilience.
Giovanni said, “We are Virginia Tech. We are sad today and we will be sad for quite a while. We are not moving on; we are embracing our mourning…” She made it clear that mourning is a necessary process, and something to be fully experienced and respected, not rushed or dismissed.
Giovanni also provided an important insight into the nature of tragedy. She continued, “We do not understand this tragedy. We know we did nothing to deserve it, but neither does the child in Africa dying of AIDS…” With this comparison, Giovanni placed the Virginia Tech tragedy in a broader context. She highlighted that suffering, while often deeply painful and unjust, is not unique to just one community. People around the world face various forms of hardship and loss, and they, too, mourn. Yet, despite these experiences, they do not allow sorrow to define them. They persevere.
Nikki Giovanni gave many impactful speeches like this throughout her career. She even spoke here at NC State on numerous occasions, immersing herself in the rich Black organizations we have here on campus, Such as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, of which Giovanni was granted an honorary membership in August of 1973.
Additionally, Giovanni augmented events hosted by the Black Student Board (BSB) leaving a profound impact on those who heard her speak. Antoinette Norton, Administrative Support Specialist for the Women’s Center, spoke highly of her experience at the 45th anniversary of Pan- Afrikan Festival Week where BSB hosted Nikki Giovanni as a guest speaker, “Having Nikki Giovani’ even her presence here at a Predominantly White Institution (PWI), being invited by the Chancellor [Randy Woodson] was a great experience for me as a black woman… Her experiences and how she embodied her blackness, her culture and how she spoke volumes and truths about her blackness.”
Even after hearing Giovanni almost a decade ago, Norton spoke incredibly highly of her experience hearing the powerful words of Nikki Giovani, yet for those who have only read of Nikki Giovanni the power of her message and the volume of her character will forever impact many.
More recently, the African American Culture Center Library hosted a celebration to commemorate the legacy of Nikki Giovanni. The Nubian Message spoke with Wynter Douglas, Interim Library Coordinator, who shared a statement about the powerful celebration.
“On January 6th, the AACC Library hosted a celebration of life for Nikki Giovanni in the form of an immersive exploration of her works – as well as our autographed copies- housed in the AACC Library as well as archival materials from the Special Collections Research Center in the form of past editions of the Nubian Message and the Technician to showcase articles that were written about Nikki Giovanni’s multiple visit to the NCSU campus throughout the years. This event included a community poetry reading followed by a viewing of the documentary ‘Going to Mars’. Throughout the event, a slideshow with Nikki Giovani quotes was displayed on one of the AACC Gallery walls to showcase her witty personality. There was also a wall to write a note to Nikki where many people wrote gratitude and farewell notes to the poet.”
Nikki Giovanni has immortalized herself in black history through her influential role in the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Arts Movement. Giovanni’s work demonstrates a bold, unapologetically black attitude, which has made her a lasting figure in history. Her legacy continues here, at NC State, as black students continue to create space for themselves at PWIs.
