I got to meet Nikki Giovanni this week! Okay, not really. I spoke with her for about 28 seconds immediately after she gave an MLK Day speech. I’m a total fanboy! I gave my best Walter Payton combo of sliding, diving and pushing through the crowd to reach her and was able to say all the critical things in those 28 seconds.
Things like:
Her critical inspiration for me to achieve a surprising level of openness in my poetry
Our use of her poem Resignation at our wedding
One of my student’s research project on Giovanni and the Black Arts Movement
The power and bravery of her continuing stands for justice and against inequality
I was also able to give her a copy of MOSAIC. I can only hope she enjoys it.
FDO
The WhoDeannyPod 