The celebrated poet Nikki Giovanni passed away on Monday, December 9, at the age of 81, following her third cancer diagnosis. Renée Watson, a friend and author, confirmed her passing in a statement.
Poet Kwame Alexander remarked, “We will forever be grateful for the unconditional time she gave to us, to all her literary children across the writerly world.”
Giovanni’s groundbreaking poetry career began in 1968 with the publication of Black Feeling Black Talk, a collection that established her as a leading voice of the Black Arts Movement. Through her work, Giovanni explored themes of love, politics, race, and loneliness, using language that ranged from poignant and spare to powerful and unflinching. In her poem Word Poem, she wrote:
“let’s build
what we become
when we dream.”
Born Yolanda Cornelia Giovanni Jr. on June 7, 1943, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Giovanni grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and its suburbs. She later attended Fisk University in Nashville, where she connected with influential Black literary figures such as Dudley Randall, Margaret Walker, and Amiri Baraka. While at Fisk, she revived the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).
As her literary career flourished, Giovanni became a frequent guest on Soul!, a talk show spotlighting Black arts and culture. Notably, she had a profound televised conversation with writer James Baldwin. She was also named “Woman of the Year” by Ebony magazine and Mademoiselle during this period.
Giovanni spent over 30 years teaching English at Virginia Tech, where she played an influential role in her students’ academic and literary lives. Tragically, she expressed concerns about one student who later carried out the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, which claimed 32 lives. Reflecting on the tragedy, Giovanni told NPR, “Killing is a lack of creation. It’s a lack of imagination. It’s a lack of understanding who you are and your place in the world. Life is an interesting and a good idea.”
Until her final days, Giovanni remained active, continuing to write and publish. Her upcoming poetry collection, THE LAST BOOK, is set for release next year, a testament to her enduring creative spirit and legacy.