Quick Biography• Real name- Yolande

Cornelia, known as Nikki Giovanni

• Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on June 7, 1943

• Grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio

• Poet, writer, and teacher• Since 1987, Nikki was a

professor in Virginia Tech• Famous for her love

poems, life, and children poems

Awards• 1985- The Ohio Women’s

Hall of Fame Outstanding Woman of Tennessee

• 1994- Tennessee Writer’s Award, The Nashville Banner

• 1998- NAACP Image award for love poems

• 1998-Inviteed guest to the White House

• 1999- Voted Ohio’s favorite Author of poetry

….continuing…

• 2000- Virginia Governor's Awards for the Arts

• 2002- The Shero Award for Lifetime Achievement

• 2003- Name one of the “History Makers”

• 2004- Nominated for a Best Spoken Word Grammy in the 46th Annual Grammy Awards (“The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection)

• And many others….

Most Famous Poems

• One of the most famous poems is Ego Tripping

• Knoxville Tennessee• Nikki-Rosa • All Eyes On You• Black Judgment• My House• Cotton Candy On a

Rainy Day

Famous Children Poems

• The Sun Is So Quiet• Knoxville, Tennessee• The Genie in The Jar• Hip Hop Speaks to

Children• The Grasshopper’s

Song

Inspiration

• The “Ego Tripping” and the “All Eyes On You” were inspired and written in the memory of Tupac Shakur and referring to his album All Eyes On Me (Jan McDaniel)

• Her writing is based on facts that she has experienced to some point.

• When interviewed and asked the “Who or what inspired you to write?” by Scholastic, her answer was “I’m just totally fascinated by people.”

Little Facts

• Began writing since college

• Had a great childhood and great parents

• Wrote her first poem at about sixteen or seventeen.

…continuing..

• Some of Giovanni’s poems are about love some talk about politics.

• Some of her poems such as Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day , talk about life in the 1970’s when the Civil Rights were very shallow. (Virgina C. Powler)

Why I choose Nikki Giovanni?

• Last year, I have read a few poems by Nikki Giovanni. I found her writing very interesting. That’s why I decided to read more of her poems.