Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection

by Nikki Giovanni

In a career that has spanned over three decades, Nikki Giovanni has perceptively recorded her observations of both the outside world and the gentle yet enigmatic territory of the self. When her poems first emerged from the Civil Rights and Black Arts Movements of the 1960s, she immediately became a celebrated and controversial literary figure. One of the most commanding voices to grace America's political and poetic landscape, Nikki Giovanni's poems embody the fearless passion and spirited wit for which she is beloved and revered.

From the sublime "Ego Tripping" to the tender "My House," Nikki Giovanni's mind-speaking, truth-telling poems compassionately evoke our nation's past, present, and future.

Read by Nikki Giovanni.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Race, African American

Audio Cassette

First published November 5, 2002

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

[katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to choose a poetry collection for Read Harder 2015 . . . and this was the right one for me! Nikki is equal parts profound and profane, funny and somber. I learned some history and a lot of context. Gorgeous. Particular recommend on audio--her voice just makes it all come together. NB: R-rated!

[Shirleynature · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen to poems and stories of wonderment, wisdom & wit; you will be entertained and surprised. This Grammy Winning masterpiece is swiftly read by the poet herself!

[Kristian Bjerke Dalen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Når eksen min og jeg spilte sjakk, pleide hun å gå rundt i rommet mens jeg tenkte og si "what will he do! what will he do!". Når jeg leser dette diktet hører jeg det med hennes stemme.

If a lemon
Kissed a beet
Is it sour
Or is it sweet

If a bear
Gives
A hug
Will it turn
Into a rug

And then there's me
and there is you
I do sometimes wonder
What will we do

[V Massaglia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love her stories, rhythm, honesty, and her humanity. I could read and listen to hear for hours and hours. I learn so much and am always moved and often surprised. <3

V

[Edward Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives you the context, backgrounds, environments, and the works needed to fully appreciate this Nikki’s evolution.

[Cassaundra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely one of my favorite collections of poetry - EVER!

[Julius Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

always Honesty from her

she's my favorite

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful visions, there's no question why her work is echoed over and over. Sometimes soft, sometimes hard hitting and thought provoking. Everyone should read Giovanni's work at least once!

[Vel Veeter]

This is an audio collection by Nikki Giovanni, where she reads several of her poems, including well known poems like the one shared below. What’s great about this: in general it’s always better to have a poet read their own poetry, especially contemporary poetry where the meter is more likely to irregular at times because the poem lives in their brain and heart. Better, for this collection Nikki Giovanni doesn’t just read her poems, but introduces each with what feels like a free-wheeling introduction about the writing, the themes, or something else going with it. These interstices might be prewritten and rehearsed, but they feel impromptu, which makes them especially valuable.

[Massanutten Regional Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katie, Main reference volunteer, May 2015, 4 stars:

I had to choose a poetry collection for Read Harder 2015 . . . and this was the right one for me! Nikki is equal parts profound and profane, funny and somber. I learned some history and a lot of context. Gorgeous. Particular recommend on audio--her voice just makes it all come together.

NB: R-rated!

[Jahque Sweeney-Hill]

Amazing...

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are some great readings from Ms. Giovanni.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rereading some old favorites and encountering others for the first time. I absolutely love this woman and her poems are making me happy this morning.