Renowned poet, Nikki Giovanni, died Monday at the age of 81. Her death followed her third cancer diagnosis. The poet known for her powerful words of Black joy and revolution was a force on the literary landscape. Many people turned to her words for hope, guidance and empowerment. Always authentic and never one to mince words, Giovanni will be remembered as a thought leader in the Black Arts Movement.
On a more personal note, Nikki Giovanni was a poetic north star at one point in my life. I discovered her while in high school, a time when I repeatedly played the albums “Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star” and Common’s “Like Water For Chocolate.” I was starting to understand many of the inequities in America and Giovanni’s words lit a fire inside of me. They also brought peace in a way. While she addressed politics and the truth in America for Black people, her works were so thought provoking that they inspired me. I too, wanted to be a poet and it was Giovanni who drove me to major in creative writing in college. Nearly a decade later, I would weave her poem, “You Came Too,” into my wedding ceremony. She lived a long, full life marked with many memorable moments like her conversation with James Baldwin and her three decades long teaching career at Virginia Tech. Still, I feel a deep sadness knowing she’s gone. Her words, were a soft place to land on the hard days when I was forced to come to terms with the harsh world Black people face. I find solace in knowing that Giovanni’s words will live on forever.
Powerful Nikki Giovanni Quotes
Here are some of the poet’s inspiring and revolutionary quotes to remember.
On Black Women
“I mean, that the New World black woman needs a little of the Old World black woman in her, and the other way around. I don’t think that they are completely fulfilled without the other.”
“There’s Nothing Greater on Earth Than Black Women.”
On Self-Publishing
“No one was much interested in a Black girl writing what was called “militant” poetry. I thought of it as good poetry but we all have our own ideas. Since no one wanted to publish me I formed a company and published myself. That was a lot easier to do in the old days.”
On Aging
“A lot of people resist transition and therefore never allow themselves to enjoy who they are. Embrace the change, no matter what it is; once you do, you can learn about the new world you’re in and take advantage of it. You still bring to bear all your prior experience, but you are riding on another level. It’s completely liberating.”
“I highly recommend old age; it’s fun.”
On Confidence
“I am so hip even my errors are correct.”
“A lot of people refuse to do things because they don’t want to go naked, don’t want to go without guarantee. But that’s what’s got to happen. You go naked until you die”