Pure Thoughts: Poetry Month (Pt. 3)

Ms. Nikki Giovanni, an American poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator, whose primary focus is on the individual, and the power provided, to make a difference in oneself, and in the lives of others. 

Ms. Giovanni’s poetry expresses strong racial pride, respect for family, and her own experiences as a daughter, a civil rights activist, and a mother. She is currently a distinguished and prolifically-poignant professor of English at Virginia Tech.

The younger of two daughters, Yolande Cornelia Giovanni was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on June 7, 1943, to Yolande Cornelia, Sr. and Jones "Gus" Giovanni, the blessings of a close-knit family, growing up in Lincoln, Heights, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio.

In 1960 she began her studies at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, her grandfather's alma mater, graduating in 1967 with honors, receiving a B.A. in History. Afterward, she went on to attend the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University.

By 1969, Ms. Giovanni had all her academic credentials straightened up. She took a job offer from the Rutgers University officials, in order to teach students a good thing or two about different subjects of vast interest. She did, however, receive recognition of nineteen doctorates, and honorary degrees from several institutes every once in a while, but none of them counts as an “actual” degree. But still, an honorary degree or a posthumous honor is a great way to make someone stand tall among others.

Since 1987, she has taught writing and literature at Virginia Tech, where she is a University Distinguished Professor. Recipient of a myriad of other awards, including "Woman of the Year" awards from three different magazines as well as the key to several different cities.

Included on her various list of prize-winning writings: Black Feeling-Black Talk (1967), Black Judgment (1968), Re: Creation (1970), My House (1972), Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day (1978), also co-authored “A Dialogue with James Baldwin” (1973) book. In addition, Ms. Giovanni’s work has extended to recorded form, for example, albums “LIKE A RIPPLE ON A POND,” and “TRUTH IS ON ITS WAY,” with New York Community Choir.

What an incredibly astute woman, continuing to guide through knowledgeable insight!

Below is another one of her familiar poetic works, of which I can relate personally, even though I’m not a male, My First Memory (Of Librarians):

This is my first memory:
A big room with heavy wooden tables that sat on a creaky
wood floor
A line of green shades—bankers' lights—down the center
Heavy oak chairs that were too low or maybe I was simply
too short
For me to sit in and read
So my first book was always big
In the foyer up four steps a semi-circle desk presided
To the left side the card catalogue
On the right newspapers draped over what looked like
a quilt rack
Magazines face out from the wall
The welcoming smile of my librarian
The anticipation in my heart
All those books—another world—just waiting
At my fingertips.

Technorati Tags: Poetry Month,Poem