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RIP Nikki Giovanni

BlackGoku

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Well-known Virginia Tech professor dies at 81​

Nikki Giovanni

BLACKSBURG, Va. (WDBJ) - Virginia Tech professor and poet, Nikki Giovanni, has died at the age of 81. She died peacefully with her life-long partner, Virginia (Ginney) Fowler, by her side.

Yolande Cornelia “Nikki” Giovanni, born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on June 7, 1943, served as a University Distinguished Professor in the English Department at Virginia Tech. Giovanni, an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., is the recipient of hundreds of awards and honors. She was most recently awarded a 2024 Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking for Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project.

As a prominent figure of the Black Arts and Civil Rights Movements, she became friends with Rosa Parks, Aretha Franklin, James Baldwin, Nina Simone, and Muhammad Ali, and inspired generations of students, artists, activists, musicians, scholars and human beings both young and old.

Having battled cancer twice already, Giovanni refused to let a third bout interrupt her art. Just three weeks ago, she performed with saxophonist Javon Jackson at the Louis Armstrong House in New York City. Her forthcoming book of poetry, “The Last Book”, will be published in fall 2025.

“The poet Adrienne Rich wrote ‘…somehow, each of us will help the other live, and somewhere, each of us must help the other die.’ Renée Watson and I sat by her side, with Ginney, along with family and close friends, chatting about how much we learned about living from her, about how lucky we have been to have Nikki guide us, teach us, love us. We will forever be grateful for the unconditional time she gave to us, to all her literary children across the writerly world,” said Kwame Alexander.

Giovanni is survived by her wife, Virginia Fowler, her son Thomas Giovanni, her granddaughter, Kai Giovanni, two cousins, Haynes Ford and Allison (Pat) Ragan, and a nephew Christopher Black.

“We will forever feel blessed to have shared a legacy and love with our dear cousin,” said Allison Ragan on behalf of the family.

Copyright 2024 WDBJ. All rights reserved.
 
jimmiewine

jimmiewine

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I’m at a loss for words with this one. Ms. Giovanni was a mentor to me and actually gave me my first shot at being a published writer back in 1999 when I was a featured writer in her book, Grand Fathers. I remember being so excited because she called my house to tell me that I had been chosen but unfortunately I was at work. I was all of 24 at the time. My mom goes “Nikki Giovanni called looking for you and I didn’t believe it was her! She left her phone number and said call her!” Problem was it was after midnight and I was so excited that I called her. And almost got cussed out! She was like “Boy, do you know what time it is?” I apologized and admitted I was excited about talking to her. She laughed about it and was like “Congratulations on being chosen but don’t you ever call me at this time of night again!”

I went on to work in radio as well as journalism and I was blessed to interview Ms. Giovanni several more times. We became friends and she would give me advice on being a writer. We both love Prince so that was our bond. I still have her number in my phone. I will miss her but I’m thankful for the bond we shared.
 

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