Nikki Giovanni, 66, Grammy-nominated poet is one is the most influential poets in the last forty years. And she continues to gain more admirers as time goes on, well she teaches English as a Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech.
In the 1960s is when Nikki Giovanni was first introduced to the world as an outspoken, powerful poet. Her first book of poetry,
Black Feel, Black Talk was published in 1968, and
Black Judgment was published shortly thereafter. Then two years later, she published the
Re: Creation. These works included poems about the civil rights and black power movements. This made Giovanni known in the literary world are her militant like attack to world that was around her. She was also named Woman of Year in 1972.
However, since then she has published over a dozen books, in which she was inspired by many black activists and artists. In 1997, Giovanni wrote her book, Love Poem, in the memory of Tupac Shakur, a popular ‘90s rapper, poet, who murdered a year prior. And with her diversity and forever-changing style it leaves readers anxious to see what’s left to come.
Yet, until today, “Ego-Tripping” is still the poem that many remember the most by Giovanni. It is a touching, uplifting poem that express how she views being a single-parent. Giovanni is such a chameleon, with her ability to blend in the times and never get lost in the many styles of writing that as surfaced. And that fact alone just makes her such a pioneer in writing.
1.What made you start writing?
2.Why did you feel you had to be vocal when it came to the issues African-Americans were faced with during the 1960s?
3.Who has when the most influential person to you?
4.How do you feel about having so many people admire who you are and the things you have accomplished in literature?
5.You have been writing well over 25 years, so do you see yourself “retiring” from writing?
