Remembering PVAMU’s Inaugural Writer in Residence, Nikki Giovanni

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (Dec. 11, 2024) - The literary world has lost a towering figure in the arts.

Nikki Giovanni, one of the most celebrated African American poets and civil rights activists, has died at the age of 81.

Ms. Giovanni, born Yolande Cornelia Giovanni Jr., used her voice as a poet and spoken word artist to address issues of Black identity and liberation. She left an indelible artistic imprint on creatives and played a vital role in cultivating a culture of literary excellence at Prairie View A&M University when she was named the Inaugural 2021-2022 Writer-in-Residence in the Toni Morrison Writing Program.

Established by PVAMU's eighth president, Ruth J. Simmons, the initiative actively showcases African American writing in the literary canon.Ms. Giovanni set a bar, a standard of exceptional talent, that continues to underscore the esteemed program, now in its fourth year.

The celebrated writer stirred the souls of students during the program's first masterclass, encouraging empowerment and aspiration. One student called the experience "a pivotal moment in my career." Dr. Teta Banks, the program's committee chair at the time, said, "Ms. Giovanni's lectures during the masterclass have inspired students to think about the relevance of their existence, the issues confronting their communities, and their responsibility and ability to address them."

On "The Hill," the award-winning writer upheld her reputation as a distinguished poet and insightful thought leader long after her tenure as the University's Writer-in-Residence.

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Giovanni gained initial fame in the late 1960s as a leading author of the Black Arts Movement. Influenced by the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, her early work provides a strong, militant African-American perspective, leading one writer to dub her the "Poet of the Black Revolution." Ms. Giovanni won numerous awards, including the Langston Hughes Medal and the NAACP Image Award. Named a "Living Legend" by Oprah Winfrey, her diverse body of work includes poetry anthologies, recordings, nonfiction essays, and children's books.

The Toni Morrison Writing Program is led by Provost Emerita and Professor E. Johanne Thomas-Smith and was made possible by a substantial gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in late 2020. Scott, a former student of Morrison's at Princeton, attributes much of her development as an author to Morrison's mentorship.

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We invite you to explore "Peace Be Still: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Nikki Giovanni's Truth is On its Way," a compelling podcast/documentary written and produced at the 91.3 KPVU Studios by Jamal Ahmad and Marquis Lofton. View it here.

Prairie View A&M University extends its deepest condolences to Ms. Giovanni's family, friends, and fans. We are all the better for having known such a prolific literary icon.

-PVAMU-