Being Alive Is a Good Idea: A Wide-Ranging Conversation with Nikki Giovanni & Glory Edim

by Nikki Giovanni, Glory Edim

An edited transcript of the far-ranging conversation between Nikki Giovanni and Glory Edim (Well-Red Black Girl) at the Well-Read Black Girl Festival in November 2020. In it they cover poetry, Jay-Z, Black Lives Matter, feminism, and much more. This conversation captures an important moment in time and literary legacy.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Essays, Feminism

36 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2021

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

[Kris Dersch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like as a white person some books I read because there's a conversation being had that I need to shut up and listen to even though it might not be a conversation "for" me. I felt that way about this book. I learned a lot, I loved the interspersing of poetry, this is one of my favorite poets. There was a lot that I was not necessarily the target audience for but that's not a knock on this at all...this was what it was which was a genuine free flowing conversation with one of the best poets of the last generation. It's well worth the read.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Nikki Giovanni so much that when I found out this tiny book was going to be a part of Independent Bookstore Day, I knew I had to rush out and get a copy, even if it meant interrupting my sacred Dewey's Readathon to do it. This was an excellent decision.

I picked this book up to read on a day when I was unreasonably cranky for no obvious reason, hoping it would adjust my attitude for me, and OH GOODNESS, DID IT EVER. Nikki Giovanni is a treasure, and as soon as I put this down I made sure to go follow Glory Edim everywhere I wasn't already following her.

Listen. ALL OF NIKKI GIOVANNI'S OPINIONS ARE CORRECT. This is a wide-ranging conversation, as advertised, but I would follow her wherever she goes. From Vice President Harris to the fuckability of Frederick Douglas to space to living in the Appalachias to learning Chinese to her own poetry to Kanye...

This tiny book is a gem.

[Andrea Bastien · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up on independent bookstore day and read it immediately. I have been interested in reading Nikki Giavonni’s work, but as with many prolific writer I had struggled to find where to start. This transcript of her interview with Glory Edin of “Well Read Black Girls” is powerful, yet light. Giovanni’s responses to everything are almost perfect, and very evocative like her poetry. It also includes a few of the poems they discuss in the interview, which is a great sampler for someone like myself curious about Giavonni’s body of work. It was a delight to read.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Now I want to try this”… this transcript propelled me to keep going! Thank you Nikki Giovanni. I felt the warm embrace of my elders through your words.

[Briana Blu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy breezy wisdom.

[Phobean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, indeed, it is.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, powerful, and conversational. It reminded me that I really need to read more of Nikki Giovanni's poetry.

[Ciana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Giovanni is dropping gems like she always has! I love that women, and especially black women, have no filter at a certain age. They only have space for the truth and Ms. Giovanni shares her truth with WRBG community. Loved it!