Acolytes

by Nikki Giovanni

A collection of eighty all new poems, "Acolytes" is distinctly Nikki Giovanni, but different. Not softened, but more inspired by love, celebration, memories and even nostalgia. She aims her intimate and sparing words at family and friends, the deaths of heroes and friends, favorite meals and candy, nature, libraries, and theatre. But in between, the deep and edgy conscience that has defined her for decades shines through when she writes about Rosa Parks, hurricane Katrina, and Emmett Till's disappearance, leaving no doubt that Nikki has not traded one approach for another, but simply made room for both.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, African American Literature, Anthologies, African American

144 pages, ebook

First published January 23, 2007

About the author

Yolande Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni Jr. was an American poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator. One of the world's most well-known African-American poets, her work includes poetry anthologies, poetry recordings, and nonfiction essays, and covers topics ranging from race and social issues to children's literature. She won numerous awards, including the Langston Hughes Medal and the NAACP Image Award. She was nominated for a Grammy Award for her poetry album, The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection. Additionally, she was named as one of Oprah Winfrey's 25 "Living Legends". Giovanni was a member of The Wintergreen Women Writers Collective.
Giovanni gained initial fame in the late 1960s as one of the foremost authors of the Black Arts Movement. Influenced by the Civil Rights Movement and Black Power Movement of the period, her early work provides a strong, militant African-American perspective, leading one writer to dub her the "Poet of the Black Revolution". During the 1970s, she began writing children's literature, and co-founded a publishing company, NikTom Ltd, to provide an outlet for other African-American women writers. Over subsequent decades, her works discussed social issues, human relationships, and hip hop. Poems such as "Knoxville, Tennessee" and "Nikki-Rosa" have been frequently re-published in anthologies and other collections.
Giovanni received numerous awards and holds 27 honorary degrees from various colleges and universities. She was also given the key to over two dozen cities. Giovanni was honored with the NAACP Image Award seven times. One of her more unique honors was having a South America bat species, Micronycteris giovanniae, named after her in 2007.
Giovanni was proud of her Appalachian roots and worked to change the way the world views Appalachians and Affrilachians.
Giovanni taught at Queens College, Rutgers, and Ohio State, and was a University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech until September 1, 2022. After the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007, she delivered a chant-poem at a memorial for the shooting victims.

Reviews

[Phoebe Scarborough · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Hokie Bias*

I loved this book and I love her. (I took a break halfway through to watch her TedTalk and also research her more) As to be expected, I liked/understood some excerpts a lot more than others. But, they stayed pretty consistently strong throughout.

I was reading it like a chapter book because i just didn’t want to put it down. That seems like a good sign.

My favorites were the ones about grandmothers and libraries.:)

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked this book of poems from my community library, however, I must purchase my own copy. I know that I will want to return again and again to these selections. Giovanni, celebrates family, friends,those who have given to society, love, childhood and senior moments. This group of poems offers something for every soul.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book and discovered to my delight two poems dedicated to Nina Simone. With that I jumped up hoping my record player still worked and put on one of my many Nina Simone records. As I thought about it, that is probably why Nikki Giovanni speaks so powerfully to me, she has followed in the path Nina Simone blazed and lit it up.

This is illustrated in the piece "I Am Mighty Mouse". The annual National Council of Negro Women was holding its annual dinner in Cincinnati. Marge Schott, the managing general partner of the Cincinnati Reds and a known racist, decided to attend the dinner to show she was in fact not a racist and was allowed to via making a large donation. Dr. Dorothy Height, the leader of the NCNW, "was worried. She understood the significance of Marge Schott sitting at a table under the banner of NCNW: She knew it would appear as if everything was all right;Schott had simply been misunderstood. That bothered Dottie. She was looking for a way to keep the reputation of the NCNW clean. The keynote speaker would be the key.

What Dorothy Height decided:Dottie said to her aide 'I must speak with our keynoter. I must make her or him understand what is at stake. Marge Schott must not be allowed to get away with this. Who is the speaker?' Her aide called Cincinnati to ask who is the keynoter. Nikki Giovanni she was told. The aide reported back to Dr. Height: it is Nikki Giovanni.

'Nikki?' asked Dottie. 'Are you sure?' 'Yes, Dr. Height, I am sure.' 'Well then,'said the mighty one, 'I'm gong to bed.' 'Don't you want to talk with her?' Height was asked. 'Oh, no. Nikki will take care of it. Good night.'"

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love her writing but not sure if I loved the formatting of this one as much. Her work is always poignant but the short essays sometimes felt like could have been their own book potentially? Not sure the best way describe but loved Daughter Comes Home and For Summer

[Lauren Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

First work I’ve read written by Nikki Giovanni. Very beautiful poems. Very well written! I really enjoyed these

[Phyllis | Mocha Drop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Acolytes are helpers usually assisting in the administration of rites or rituals and Nikki Giovanni's newly released book of poems of the same name celebrates many of those who have served in the struggle for justice. Acolytes opens with "We Gather: An Invocation for the Underground Railroad" which commemorates those courageous people who sacrificed much to ensure freedom for themselves and others. The book stays on point praising the infamous personalities who lent their extraordinary talents and endless dedication to the cause. It honors a myriad of contributors across all genres of sports, music, politics, and literature such as Jackie Robinson, Nina Simone, Rosa Parks, Dorothy Height, June Jordan, Gwendolyn Brooks, The Isley Brothers and others. She also hails the unsung heroes with heart filled recollections and thoughtful odes to her friends, family, and those who influenced her along the way, such as Mrs. Long, her first librarian.

In classic Nikki style, she blends the old and new by keeping her pulse on current events with reflections on Hurricane Katrina, rap music, the Bush Administration, American pop culture, but keeps us spiritually grounded in the past with reflections on racism in the moving piece, The Death of Innocence, that centers on the lynching of Emmett Till.

Just like its author, the book is small in size, but contains an ample dose of thought-provoking, spirit-moving prose sprinkled with a few of her favorite recipes for good measure. Her wit, wisdom, and heart-felt compassion resonates between the lines and will stay with you long after the book is closed. Nikki's fans will not be disappointed.

[Cara Shachter · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.75 rounded up*

I always have loved Nikki Giovanni's poetry, but I realized I have never actually read any of her collections. So, I went to search for ebooks at by library and this was the one poetry collection they had.

The way that Nikki Giovanni writes just always speaks to me, and so I found this collection very beautiful. However, I think that I would have a greater appreciation for this collection had I read her other collections. This was published in the mid 2000s, so it was steeped in so much nostalgia and reminiscing that I wish I could have felt with her at times.

[Ellice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prose poems are always a bit hard for me—they often lose the rhythm that makes poetry so wonderful. As much of what is contained here is prose poems, it did not immediately win me over. But there are also more traditional poems, which began to draw me in, and eventually I began to see some of the prose poems more as lyrical short stories. This isn’t what you might expect from a book of poetry, but if you give it a chance, it might sneak up on you and surprise you.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Nikki; I'm not much for poetry.

Here's a selection I liked:

p 106, excerpt from The Yellow Jacket (upon emptying the birdbaths and spotting a yellow jacket sitting on the edge to drink):

We are not friends
The yellow jacket and I
You will not be tamed
Or trained
Your sound will offer no comfort
Nor your numbers any sense of safety

Yet in this evening
Watching you drink
I am in awe
Of your self-possessed
beauty

[Andrea Engle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up-beat poetry ... remembering the past, cherishing the present ... of particular note: "On a Rainey Autumn Day," "A Daughter Comes Home," and "The Yellow Jacket" ... lovely poetry, easy on the eye ... I'm hooked ...

[Melissa Helton · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not my favorite styles of poems, I appreciate the connections between our current world and our history. I appreciate the celebration of Black beauty and wisdom. This would be a great collection for people to start with who claim they don't like or don't "get" poetry.

[Colleen Mertens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of poems is wonderful. I really liked Rap Blues' Child and the poem about her local library. They both connected to me and they conjured up such vivid images. You could see most of the stories in the poems. The poems touch your mind and heart.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! The writing made me smile.

[Elizabeth Randell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this collection! It is beautiful!

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Howl baby, pull the moon down” nikki’s poetry never fails 🌗💛

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Love enough to make 'em happy
Troubles they can bear
Melodies and belly laughs
Something they can share"

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

New fav poet unlocked ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Buying a copy bc I cannot let this library book go!!!

[behsforensics]

Cutting is for The Storyteller’s Silence
By Nikki Giovanni

Another cutting is for The Death of Innocence
By Nikki Giovanni

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one! I’m looking for my own copy but it appears that it may be out of print. RIP Nikki Giovanni.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I stumbled upon Nikki Giovanni's name by mixing it up with a novelist's, whose work I read long ago, but now I can't figure out which one, unless it's Nicholasa Mohr, which doesn't sound much like "Nikki Giovanni" at all. Or, or And, I heard about it on a list. If not one of Maria Popova's or TED's, then some other list. However I found her name, it was a lucky accident. Bicycles overwhelmed me, I wasn't ready for all that sexy, but Acolytes is perfect. I have been trying to find poetry I could access; Thomas and Stevens (recommended by Diane Ackerman who also recommends bicycles) were inaccessible, impenetrable for me. I have a list of poets now that starts with Nikki Giovanni, that I can't wait to explore.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been reading Nikki Giovanni since the Sixties, when she was a loud, clear voice for civil rights and human dignity. Those poems were strong, often hard, and compelling. Acolytes has a different voice, quieter but no less gritty. Much humor, too. This is my favorite Giovanni of the recent past. Especially like "The Rosa Parks", "The Librarian", "A Poem for my librarian, Mrs. Long", "The Yellow Jacket"...though there are so many wonderful poems here.

[Ted Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes reading poetry can be difficult. It makes it easier for me to have a voice in my head. Giovanni is one of the poets I've been fortunate enough to hear. Imagining her inflections and expressions as I read 'Acolytes' made it a major joy.

She may be a college professor but her style is anything but dry or academic. Each poem feels intimate and personal, genuine and down to earth.

Full of energy and honest. Loved it.

[Christina Getrost · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before meeting the great Nikki Giovanni at the Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature for Youth, I prepared by reading a lot of her books of poetry. Fascinating stuff; this one covers a wide range of topics, from the slavery experience to remembering her first librarian, to friends and family, to the power of poetry itself.

[Susan Sonnen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second of Ms. Giovanni's books that I have read. I was disappointed in her Love Poems. I went ahead and read Acolytes and am so glad that I did. The poems and essays are well-written and of value to anyone who values the dignity of life and love.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nikki Giovanni is one of my favorite contemporary poets. Her voice is strong and proud. Some of the poems are fun, some tender, and all come from her heart and her life. I enjoyed this book a great deal.

[Martha Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorites by Nikki. The post Virginia Tech shooting poem really captures things unspoken, or spoken and ignored. I love the happy poems, too. A wise woman inviting us to savor friends and hold together in loss. She also has a poem for her librarian as a child.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterpiece.

[LeConte · Rating 5 out of 5]

She signed my copy!!!! Hey Soror!

[Louise Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nikki Giovanni is and always will be one of my favorite poets. The way she handles words is amazing.

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gotta love the esteemed Ms. Giovanni... Her new poems are both friendly and compelling.