Happy 72nd Birthday Nikki Giovanni – The Poet Who Isn’t Afraid To Speak Truth

4 Posted by - June 7, 2015 - BLACK ART & LITERATURE, BLACK WOMEN, Holidays And Birthdays, LATEST POSTS

The poems of Nikki Giovanni helped to define the African-American voice of the 1960s, 70s and beyond. She was also a major force in the Black Arts movement.

Nikki Giovanni was born on June 7, 1943, Nikki Giovanni established Cincinnatis first Black Arts Festival in 1967. She published her first book of poems, Black Feeling, Black Talk in 1968.

 

Source: Nikki Giovanni – Biography – Civil Rights Activist, Poet, Television Personality – Biography.com

33 Comments

  • Dorothee Custet June 23, 2019 - 2:22 pm

    A wonderful woman & an example to all of us struggling thru the 60’s

    • Chellette Adair Henderson June 25, 2019 - 7:18 am

      Nicki l learned to love you in 1968 when you walked onto Tuskegee’s campus with your baby on your back. Your words were strong, powerful, life changes for me. You are one of God’s great gifts. Sending many blessings. Live and blessings
      Chellette Adair Henderson
      larouadair1@aol.com

      • Vivian Miller July 16, 2019 - 6:40 am

        I have always admired your strength, courage and zealous on the battlefield of righteousness for Blacks’ right through your poetry. You use your pen and it reached the unreachable mind of injustice towards the civil rights of mankind. Thank you so much. Happy birthday and many more.

    • Mildred Mabray July 1, 2019 - 7:10 pm

      I have always admired you as a poet.
      Happy Birthday???????
      I was wondering if you could help my daughter, Keysha
      Patton
      She writes poetry her way, she has written 4 to 6 books. But needs some mentoring.
      Would you mind reading some of her work and lending some advice.
      She can found – Facebook: Keysha Wallace-Patton, Instagram: Brwneyednurse
      Email: Brwneyednurse@live.com

  • Carolyn D Askew June 23, 2019 - 6:11 pm

    She keeps going and going. Blessings onto her.

    • Carolyn Jackson June 24, 2019 - 4:24 pm

      Happy Birthday Nikki Giovanni. You are my Shero!!! Much Love on your birthday ?

  • Ken Anderson June 23, 2019 - 10:30 pm

    Happy Birthday!! We had the same English teacher, Mr. Willis Gravely. He was always ptoud of you, one of his favorite students.

  • Kenneth R Weeden Jr June 24, 2019 - 6:04 am

    Happy Birthday I feel in love with you
    and your works in on the early 70’s?

    • dayna catchings August 17, 2019 - 7:48 pm

      To my Hometown Poetic Hero..Here’s wishing you a VERY Happy and Joyful Birthday Ms. Giovanni, may you have many more, just as Wonderful as Today! ?

  • Tamara Ramsey June 24, 2019 - 6:58 am

    Happy Birthday to you, one of my creative mentors!!! Your poetry protected and comforted me as an abused child. You help me to write..to Survive!!!

  • Coach A. J./Angela J. Nealy, M. S. June 24, 2019 - 10:41 am

    My Shero who I first met in 1980 when the Senior Government Association officers took me along to a dinner with her at Vanderbilt University. I sat to her left as she sat at the head of the table. Simply amazing historical conversation with us for over three hours.

  • TAMARA HICKMAN June 25, 2019 - 1:19 am

    I AM…”COTTON CANDY ON A RAINY DAY”…I LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU…YOUR WORDS ALWAYS MOVE ME AND MY FAMILY…I AM…”EGO TRIPPING!!!!!

    • Sharen Maduro June 27, 2019 - 7:54 am

      Wow, saw you at Norfolk State in the 80’s. You are something special my sister!!!

  • Ain June 25, 2019 - 6:36 am

    ?u

  • suresh June 25, 2019 - 10:03 am

    Many man y happy returns of the day to you the lady of letters. i have not gone through any of your poem, but I just show you on FB.I could not resist my self to wish you., as I am also a student of literature. Wishing you heal , healthy and wonderful life ahead.

  • Cheryl Emerson June 26, 2019 - 9:27 am

    Happy Birthday, Nikki! I have a copy of Spin a soft Black Song from 1972 or so. You aeautographed it for my eldest daughter who was about 4 at the time. It’s a wonderful book of poetry for black children is well-worn and has also been read by and to her brother and sister and their children! Thank you!

  • Isaac Jenkins June 26, 2019 - 11:42 am

    Happy Birthday

    • Sugarharp June 26, 2019 - 11:56 pm

      Happy Birthday l met her at Wilberforce University in 69 a wonderful soul!

  • Sugarharp June 26, 2019 - 11:57 pm

    Happy Birthday l met her at Wilberforce University in 69 a wonderful soul!

  • Able Mable Thomas June 28, 2019 - 3:00 am

    Inspiring to meet her at Georgia State University when I was a Student. Wrote my English term paper on Nikki Giovanni as a Black Revolutionary Poet. Got an A. Met her in Airport and introduced myself to her and she asked me what grade I got. Yup an A.

  • Gwynette June 28, 2019 - 9:12 pm

    HAPPY Birthday Soror, Oo-Oop!!!?????? You are one of our true living treasures, blessings

  • Donna Davis June 28, 2019 - 10:15 pm

    I remember, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my sister!

  • Sheron June 30, 2019 - 2:28 pm

    Thanks, Nikki. Glad I watched the whole thing. Trying not to be a fool again. Lol.

  • A. ANDERSON July 6, 2019 - 9:33 am

    Happy 72nd Birthday Nikki G.

  • DEBORAH PATT August 3, 2019 - 8:36 am

    HAPPY BORNDAY TO YOU MS NIKKI. HAD A CHANCE TO SEE YOU IN 1968 I WAS 16 AT THE TIME. I LOVED IT SO MUCH I DECIDED THEN MY DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE YOUR NAME WHENEVER I HAD ONE. I DID IN 1983. LOVE AND RESPECT YOU VERY MUCH. MANY MORE WONDERFUL DAYS TO COME FOR YOU ARE MY SHERO.

  • Vj ruth August 3, 2019 - 3:22 pm

    “We need confidence in the knowledge of who we are” – Nikki Giovanni

  • Stacey August 4, 2019 - 12:58 pm

    Happy Birthday Nikki Giovanni. You inspired my love of poetry when I was a little girl. “Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day”, and Ego Tripping

  • Deborah Gentry David August 5, 2019 - 4:45 pm

    I too have find memories of listening to you in Morehouse Hall as a freshman at Spelman College. Being so impressionable, it’s a good thing you spoke the truth even then. Thank you for your truth and vigilance with it as it so important now. ?

  • LaDy DZiKoN MooRe August 7, 2019 - 10:37 am

    “HaVe THE HaPPieST HaPPy BiRTHDaY!!!!”

  • Tanjanik Hutchinson August 10, 2019 - 6:54 pm

    Happy Birthday Nikki Giovanni you are such an inspiration

  • Anne Simmons August 11, 2019 - 1:28 pm

    Happy birthday love you then and now. So great to see you again even on line.

  • Tonya August 13, 2019 - 1:39 pm

    Happy Birthday Nikki continued blessings. Love you❤

  • Myrtle A McDonald August 13, 2019 - 2:18 pm

    Happy Birthday. Your books grace my shelf.