NEW YORK — Two months after her passing, esteemed poet Nikki Giovanni has received one of the most prestigious awards for her contributions to poetry, the Frost Medal for lifetime achievement.
On Wednesday, the Poetry Society of America announced that they had considered awarding Giovanni with this accolade before her death. Giovanni, who passed away in December, is now being celebrated with the honor posthumously.
“Nikki Giovanni stood as a formidable and influential figure in American literature and culture, the creator of approximately three dozen works encompassing poetry, essays, and literature for children,” the poetry society’s citation highlights. “With profound insight and sharp intelligence, Giovanni’s literary contributions reflect the highest aspirations of our nation as a society where every individual is valued and free to express themselves and love whomever they choose to love.”
First awarded in 1930, the Frost Medal, named after Robert Frost, has been conferred to such luminaries as Wallace Stevens, Allen Ginsberg, and Adrienne Rich, among others.
