PLANET NIKKI

A few hours prior to attending the Nikki Giovanni event, I mentioned to a good friend how excited I was to see her in person. Fittingly in an ironic way, since we are concluding Black History Month, or what I have labeled African Genesis Month he responded, " Who is Nikki Giovanni?"
As a young Black man in his early thirties, with two young children what a delicious discovery awaits him and his family. The question is really a pertinent one. Who is this song bird who sings and flutters? Who is this butterfly who transports and shimmers through the cosmos? Who is this incandescent light pulsating and recharging without a battery. To see Nikki is of course to hear her and to feel her with your heart. But who is this mortal vessel that rumbles through your marrow conducting a spirit filling transplant whether or not you have health care.

Over 400 devotees attended the Nikki temple of african-american-episcopal-pentecostal-nubian-euphrates- nilestic-baptist-sankofa truth telling in that colored way. All of her statements for example regarding the wished for mortality of certain political figures might not have been politically correct. All of her statements regarding leadership versus electability might not have been welcomed. But truth is not always pleasant. She reminded us about the brutal fatal mutilation of Emmit Till.She reminded us of Mathew Shepard. She reminded us of hate speech against human sexual preference.She reminded us about her personal boycott of the movie Precious.She reminded us of Rosa Parks.She reminded us about our individual and collective soul journeys.

The Charles Davis lecture in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Yale African American Cultural Center,African American Studies and Co-education at Yale presented a reading and book signing with this renowned poet on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 in the Yale Law School Auditorium. Sponsored by the Afro-American Cultural Center in partnership with the Yale African American Affinity Group, the Calhoun College Charles Davis Lecture, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, African American Studies Department, Beinecke Rare Book Library, the Divinity School, School of Nursing Graduate School Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity and the Women Faculty Forum, this depth and breadth of collaboration conveys volumes regarding the influence of this
Distinguished Professor English at Virginia Tech.

My good friend that I spoke with earlier in the day, has such a joy awaiting him. At first of course in my hubris, I categorized him with a thought label essentially branding him a dumb so and so, but the my better side resurfaced although not immediately.

As we conclude Black History Month, and remember that Carter G. Woodson, also left us with a poignant book' The Mis-education of the Negro, my encounter earlier in the day, brought home the thought bacon. Learning, discovery, remembering, honoring and sharing are all connected.

Known as the “priestess of black poetry,” Nikki Giovanni is one of the most widely-read American poets, author of 30 books, and a Grammy nominee, she prides herself on being “a Black American, a daughter, a mother, a professor of English.” She also is a five time NAACP Image award winner and has been nominated once again.

But notoriety does not guarantee universal recognition. The links below provide additional revelation direction. I hope my friend soon begins his voyage to the planet of Nikki, I have been reignited to revisit and to rediscover sustaining meaning once again. ONWARD AND UPWARD !

http://nikki-giovanni.com/bio.shtml




http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/02132009/profile2.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikki_Giovanni

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=188994&id=585698688&l=4a4eb9b497

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=189003&id=585698688&l=d477163f36

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=189004&id=585698688&l=657cc2af3a

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=189008&id=585698688&l=469a6c5c5c