Nikki Giovanni, the acclaimed poet, author, educator, and dynamic public speaker, who transformed her early struggles into a celebrated literary career, has passed away at the age of 81. Giovanni, whose works candidly addressed a wide array of themes, including racism, love, and the cosmos, died on Monday, with her lifelong partner, Virginia “Ginney” Fowler, by her side, as stated by friend and fellow author Renée Watson.
The family released a heartfelt statement expressing their gratitude for having shared a legacy with Giovanni, with her cousin Allison (Pat) Ragan noting, “We will forever feel blessed to have shared a legacy and love with our dear cousin.”
With over 25 published works to her credit, Giovanni was not only a talented poet but also a powerful performer who connected deeply with her audience through readings and personal appearances. She held teaching positions at Virginia Tech and other institutions, while her poetry collections, such as “Black Judgement” and “Black Feeling Black Talk,” achieved substantial acclaim, inviting her to make guest appearances on shows like “The Tonight Show” and allowing her to fill a 3,000-seat venue at Lincoln Center for her 30th birthday celebration.
Giovanni’s career encapsulated her life experiences, from her childhood in Tennessee and Ohio to her advocacy for the Black Power movement. She openly discussed her struggles with lung cancer and honored figures like Nina Simone and Angela Davis, sharing her thoughts on topics ranging from food and love to space travel—an endeavor she felt uniquely suited Black women based on their resilience. Furthering her impact, Giovanni edited the significant anthology “Night Comes Softly,” which featured the works of notable Black women poets, and helped to establish a publishing cooperative that supported writers like Gwendolyn Brooks and Margaret Walker.
At one point, she was affectionately dubbed “The Princess of Black Poetry.” Her friend Barbara Crosby described her in a 2003 anthology as embodying a complex mix of traits that made her both bold and introspective, saying, “To love her is to love contradiction and conflict.”
Giovanni’s circle of admirers included prominent figures such as James Baldwin, Teena Marie, and Oprah Winfrey, the latter of whom featured her at the “Living Legends” summit in 2005 alongside icons like Rosa Parks and Toni Morrison. Her work “Gemini,” published in 1973, was a National Book Award finalist, and she earned a Grammy nomination for “The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection.” In 2009, she penned a poem for NPR in honor of President Barack Obama that spoke of community engagement and collective dreams.
In her personal life, Giovanni had a son, Thomas Watson Giovanni, born in 1969. She chose not to marry his father, explaining in an interview that she preferred to maintain independence. In her later years, she shared a life with Fowler, who was also a faculty member at Virginia Tech.
Giovanni was born as Yolande Cornelia Giovanni Jr. in Knoxville, Tennessee, where her older sister affectionately began calling her “Nikki.” At the age of four, her family moved to Ohio, eventually establishing roots in Lincoln Heights, a Black community near Cincinnati. She frequently traveled back to Knoxville, which she referred to as her “spiritual home,” fostering a connection with her maternal grandparents.
During her youth, Giovanni developed a passion for literature, immersing herself in various genres. She achieved acceptance to Fisk University after her junior year of high school, where she excelled academically and became involved in student activism. However, her nonconformist attitude led her to be suspended for a period. After the administration changed, she successfully returned and graduated with honors in history in 1967.
Her first two poetry collections, “Black Feeling Black Talk” and “Black Judgement,” released in 1968, were supported by her friends. Capturing the essence of the radical Black Arts Movement, her early poems were known for their militant expressions of resistance. In her own words, Giovanni reflected on the essence of writing: “I have been considered a writer who writes from rage and it confuses me. What else do writers write from?” she mused, highlighting her commitment to impactful storytelling.
As years passed, Giovanni’s perspective on the political landscape evolved. Nevertheless, she remained a steadfast advocate for change and empowerment, urging younger generations to recognize the significance of their right to vote, as evidenced by her participation in a campaign ad for Joe Biden in 2020.
One of her most significant contributions is the 1968 poem “Nikki-Rosa,” which encapsulated her thoughts on identity and happiness amidst childhood adversity—a powerful assertion of self-definition that challenged narratives imposed by outsiders.
In tribute to the monumental impact Giovanni made during her life, her legacy as a poet who celebrated the richness of Black culture and addressed social justice will undoubtedly continue to resonate in the literary world and beyond for years to come.