Nikki Giovanni
The world-renowned Black poet has passed.
Nikki Giovanni, an award-winning writer and central figure for the Black Arts Movement, died at her home on December 9, 2024, in Blacksburg, Virginia, from complications related to lung cancer.
She was born in 1943 in Knoxville, Tennessee, and proudly wrote about her Appalachian heritage, especially the history of Black people in Appalachia. Her published work includes more than 20 books of poetry, over a dozen children’s books, as well as edited volumes, essay collections, and more.
“There’s always something to do. There are hungry people to feed, naked people to clothe, sick people to comfort and make well. While I don’t expect you to save the world, I do think it’s not asking too much for you to love those with whom you sleep, share the happiness of those whom you call friends, engage those among you who are visionary, and remove from your life those who offer you depression, despair, and disrespect.”
~ Nikki Giovanni
