Revolutionary poet and civil rights activist Yolande Cornelia “Nikki” Giovanni Jr. has died at age 81.
Giovanni died peacefully, surrounded by her family, friends and life partner, Virginia (Ginney) Fowler on Monday, December 9. She died from natural causes after her third cancer diagnosis, her friend and author Renée Watson said in a statement.
Renowned for her powerful contributions to literature and society, Giovanni leaves behind a legacy that resonates with generations of readers, artists, and scholars.
Giovanni published her first poetry collection, “Black Feeling Black Talk,” in 1968. In it, Giovanni writes about the intersections of love, politics, loneliness and race.
Giovanni was a regular guest on Soul!, a Black arts and culture talk show on WNET. Her conversation with the acclaimed writer James Baldwin came after she was named “Woman of the Year” by both Ebony magazine and Mademoiselle.
Giovanni and Baldwin later became icons of the LGBTQ+ community. Their conversation was most notable for this exchange:
that time Nikki Giovanni gagged James Baldwin… pic.twitter.com/Mpr4YGmDi1
— THAT GEM. (@ROZtheCreator) December 10, 2024
Giovanni taught English at Virginia Tech for more than three decades. She expressed concerns about one of her students, who would go on to murder 32 people in the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007.
Speaking about the shooting, Giovanni told NPR, “Killing is a lack of creation. It’s a lack of imagination. It’s a lack of understanding who you are and your place in the world. Life is an interesting and a good idea.”
She was working on her last book of poetry when she died. The book, titled “The Last Book,” will be published in 2025.
Giovanni is survived by her partner Virginia Fowler, son Thomas Giovanni, granddaughter Kai Giovanni, and extended family.
To live 81 years and say all THAT
with all that power and
Allll THAT insight
outside
on paper
for girls
like
me.
Ms Giovanni gave me
to US to read.
Validation!
Oh to be seen!
What a many righteous thing
to do
with
a life. ?????????????? pic.twitter.com/W4rkF1Btmw— ?Jill Scott? (@missjillscott) December 10, 2024
Nikki Giovanni, revolutionary poet and voice of Black resilience, has died at 81. Her words inspired generations and will continue to echo through time. pic.twitter.com/WGNn3AqTgK
— theGrio.com (@theGrio) December 10, 2024
RIP to poet, writer, activist & visionary Nikki Giovanni. She was 81 and her first & only tattoo was in honor of Tupac. She once said “Thug Life is a way of living for those marginalized, pushed down and who want to bring themselves up from the barrel's bottom- the underdogs.” pic.twitter.com/ORsbzDW0ll
— Long Live Da Don ?? (@thetupacarchive) December 10, 2024
