Nikki Giovanni, a towering figure in American poetry and an unforgettable voice in the Black arts movement, has passed away on December 9 at the age of 81. Her demise was announced by her friend and fellow author, Renée Watson, who revealed that Giovanni lost her battle with cancer for the third time.
The renowned poet Nikki Giovanni has died. Giovanni died on Monday, Dec. 9, following her third cancer diagnosis, according to a statement from friend and author Renée Watson. She was 81. “We will forever be grateful for the unconditional time she gave to us, to all her literary children across the writerly world,” said poet Kwame Alexander in the statement.
Giovanni published her first poetry collection, Black Feeling Black Talk, in 1968. It established her as an emerging figure out of the Black Arts Movement. In it, Giovanni writes about the intersections of love, politics, loneliness and race. Her language is sometimes spare and longing, other times dense and righteous. The final lines in “Word Poem” read, “let’s build / what we become /when we dream.”
Giovanni’s career spanned decades, from her early days reconnecting the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee at Fisk University to teaching English at Virginia Tech for over 30 years. Her voice became a fixture on Soul!, the WNET talk show spotlighting Black arts and culture, where she engaged in powerful conversations, including one with James Baldwin.
Her personal connections included friendships with icons such as Rosa Parks, Nina Simone, and Muhammad Ali. Giovanni remained a beacon of resilience, performing just weeks before her passing at the Louis Armstrong House. Her final poetry collection, The Last Book, is slated for release in 2025.
Nikki Giovanni, a highly acclaimed African-American Poet died on 9th December 2024 at the age of 81 after struggling from cancer for years.
The poet’s career spanned for more than 60 years, and she was known widely for her unique writing style and was one of the leading voices of the 1960s Black Arts movement, which landed her with fame and success.
Giovanni, the award winning poet, is known for writing numerous books including A Good Cry, Bicycles, Chasing Utopia, and Love Poems. Her most recent book of poetry, Make Me Rain, was published in October 2020.
As a writer, she tackled race, gender, sex, politics and love. She was also a public intellectual who appeared on television and toured the country.
Nikki Giovanni, the renowned poet and activist, has passed away at the age of 81 following complications from lung cancer. Her death was confirmed on December 9, 2024, by her wife, Virginia C. Fowler.
A prominent figure in the Black Arts Movement, Giovanni was known for her powerful poetry that addressed themes of race, love, and social justice. She gained fame with her debut anthology Black Feeling Black Talk in 1968 and continued to produce a vast body of work, including children’s literature and essays.
Giovanni was also a beloved educator at Virginia Tech, where she taught for over three decades. She was actively working on her upcoming poetry collection, The Last Book, scheduled for release next year. Tributes have poured in from fans and fellow writers, celebrating her profound impact on literature and activism.
SOURCE:-
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2514979/legendary-poet-and-activist-nikki-giovanni-passes-away-aged-81
https://www.yahoo.com/news/nikki-giovanni-revered-american-poet-090222439.html
