Nikki Giovanni (Finding Aid)

Nikki Giovanni

1943 -

Favorite Food: If it's on the plate, eat it

Favorite Vacation Spot: Anyplace with sun and a beach

Interview Length: 201 minutes

Interview Date(s): January 31, 2003, June 18, 2005

Interview Location(s): Chicago, Illinois, The HistoryMakers, 1900 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois, Atlanta, Georgia

Abstract

Nikki Giovanni gives the meaning behind her name and talks about why she is called 'Nikki'. She then discusses her family's history and describes where the name Giovanni may have come from. She discusses some of her recent editing projects and then remembers her relationship to her maternal grandparents. Giovanni then describes her elderly cousin as well as how her relationship with her mother has developed over the years. She talks about her role as a niece in looking out for other family members in caring for their well-being as they grow older. Nikki Giovanni discusses her relationship as a niece to her Aunt Ann. She then briefly talks about her parents and tells of a trip she took with her mother as well as her father's influence on her. Giovanni remembers teachers from her early days and details a situation that arose where she was wrongly punished. Then, she describes her continued relationships with certain teachers. Giovanni discusses her influences as a poet, citing examples of how experiences from her youth became subject matter. She briefly talks about her philosophy on writing. Giovanni evaluates several black public figures and shares some of her political views. Next, she describes her adolescent life as she details various relationships. She talks in depth about the process involved in choosing a college as well as the reasons for deciding upon Fisk University. Nikki Giovanni recalls an early episode in her years at Fisk. Nikki Giovanni recalls participating in the Nashville sit-ins while attending Fisk University. Then she describes conflicts she had with administration there which led to her taking a leave from the University. Giovanni tells of her decision to return to Fisk. Briefly, she discusses influential classmates at Fisk. Next, she describes her earliest publications and then speaks on her decision to study social work. Giovanni then explains what led her away from social work to Columbia University. She then describes how she secured her book party for 'Black Judgment' and talks about the outcome of that event. Giovanni discusses the gangster figure in the past and present. She then talks about being a mother and her relationship with her son. Nikki Giovanni discusses her son Thomas's educational decisions and tells some important life lessons he learned along the way. She then expresses hopeful interest in becoming a grandmother. Giovanni discusses more details on her relationship with her son. Next, she gives her opinion on being an unwed mother. She considers the issues that children of public figures face and cites specific examples. Giovanni then talks about her relationship with Queen Latifah. She talks about some of her own career highlights and then considers her commercial success. Nikki Giovanni shares some provocative and controversial opinions on everything from Tupac to Timbuktu. She describes her respect for hip-hop music and discusses the possibility of winning a Grammy for her album liner notes work. Giovanni then gives her opinion on popular music and how these genres are usually viewed by older generations. Next, she considers how she would like to be remembered. Nikki Giovanni reflects on human existence and shares her reflections on life. She discusses the richness of the oral tradition. Pearl Cleage interviews Nikki Giovanni as part of the HistoryMakers 'An Evening With...' series. Giovanni covers topics about the concept of her poems, her parents, and her early years growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio. Giovanni then fondly recalls her grandmother and her first experience picketing in the 1960s. Later, Giovanni shares her experiences attending Fisk University in Nashville, including getting her first poems published while there. She then reminisces about H. Rap Brown and talks about today's rap artists. Giovanni then talks about rapper Tupac Shakur and his influence on her life and poetry. Lastly, Giovanni closes with a recitation of her poetry. This interview is also interspersed with music and performances of her poetry from the last three decades.

63 Stories (See Ordered Story Set)