Who Was Nikki Giovanni? Exploring Poetry, Activism, And Mental Health In Her Memory

Many famous poets have left their mark on the world in the form of words that elicit emotion and understanding. Nikki Giovanni is one of these prolific writers, having published her works throughout her life as a way to explore the reality of being a Black woman in the US. Understanding Nikki’s story can be a stepping stone to exploring the world of poetry and mental health in further detail in honor of her memory and legacy. 

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Who was Nikki Giovanni? Life history

Nikki Giovanni, born Yolande Cornelia Giovanni, Jr., was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on June 7th, 1943. She grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, where her family moved when she was a baby. Her older sister frequently called her “Nikki” throughout her early years, which eventually stuck as her nickname. Since there were no schools for Black children in her suburb, Nikki attended elementary school in Columbus, Ohio. She later moved on to a school where her mother taught in Lincoln Heights, where she finished 8th grade. In 1957, she attended 9th grade at Lockland High School, another all-Black school. 

In 1958, she moved to Knoxville to be with her grandparents. Her grandmother would become a significant figure in her life, inspiring many of her poems and teaching her about the importance of activism. They attended protests together, and her grandmother taught her about the Black Power movement. She also met several teachers who encouraged her to continue writing and to apply for early college admission, which she was awarded at Fisk University, her grandfather’s alma mater. 

Initially, Giovanni was expelled from Fisk University in Nashville due to the dean’s poor opinions of her unique approach to schooling. However, in 1964, she was re-enrolled under a new dean and majored in history. In that year, she lost her grandmother, which inspired more of her poems, many of which would go on to be published in her first book, Black Feeling Black Talk, published in 1968. Soon after, Giovanni gained initial fame after publishing Black Judgment, her second book, which was featured in the metro section of The New York Times. In 1969, she was named one of ten of the “most admired Black women” by the Amsterdam News and started publishing book reviews in Negro Digest. This publication featured African American women writers in the Black arts movement. 

From that point on, Giovanni received numerous awards and recognitions. For example, in 1972, she received an Honorary Doctorate from Wilberforce University, the oldest Black college in the US. She also received Best Spoken World Album for her work Truth Is On Its Way from the National Association of Television and Radio Announcers, and in 1991, she received another Honorary Doctorate from Indiana University. She has also received the Literary Excellence Award and the Virginia Governor’s Award. 

Giovanni was also frequently present on many boards, including the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy board. Much of her activism came from her poetry. In addition, she advocated for human rights and anti-racism throughout her life as a distinguished Virginia Tech University professor, where Giovanni taught, encouraged other Black women writers, and worked with other prominent authors, such as Virginia Fowler.  

In 2009, Giovanni published Bicycles: Love Poems, which received an NAACP Image Award, was #15 on the New York Times bestseller list, and was #1 in poetry on Amazon. The American Literacy Corporation then created the Nikki Giovanni Award to honor her. She continued to publish works up until the last year of her life. On December 9th, 2024, Nikki died from complications due to lung cancer at 81 in Blacksburg, Virginia. She is survived by her son and grandchild.     

Nikki Giovanni’s poetry 

Nikki created an extensive body of work, written from the 1960s up until 2024. Below is a list of some of her most famous published works: 

• Black Feeling, Black Talk
• Black Judgment 
• Gemini 
• The Sun Is So Quiet
• Vacation Time 
• Love Poems
• Blues: For All the Changes
• Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea
• Acolytes
• Lincoln and Douglass: An American Friendship 
• Hip Hop Speaks to Children
• Bicycles 
• 100 Best African American Poems
• Chasing Utopia: A Hybrid
• Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection  

Activism in poetry 

Nikki wrote her poetry using many stories from her life, especially touching on themes of family, connection, and Black joy. However, her work, especially the spoken word albums she released, was also considered a form of activism. She aimed to write poetry that could be authentic and unique. In her self-written biography on her website, she states, “My dream was not to publish or to even be a writer: My dream was to discover something no one else had thought of. I guess that’s why I’m a poet. We put things together in ways no one else does.” 

Giovanni wrote about how no one was interested in poetry by Black women when she was growing up, as it was often considered a “militant African American perspective.” However, despite this disdain for African American poems and Black poetry, she became a prominent public author and had a rich life. She ended her biography by stating, “I’m a writer. I’m happy.” 

What Nikki Giovanni’s story can teach about mental health 

Nikki’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and change. She entered the literary world with books exploring the authenticity of her experience as a Black woman in the US and left a long legacy of creation behind her. Although Nikki was not directly involved in psychology, her work significantly influenced the mental health of many Black women. The Black Women’s Mental Health Institute wrote on Facebook that Nikki had signed a book for them with the phrase, “For mental health awareness for Black women.”

A poem from Virginia Tech University distinguished professor Nikki Giovanni 

Below is a poem from Nikki Giovanni about her childhood called Nikki-Rosa: 

“Childhood remembrances are
always a drag if you're Black
you always remember things like
living in Woodlawn with no inside toilet
and if you become famous or something
They never talk about how happy
you were to have your mother
all to yourself and how good the
water felt when you got your bath
from one of those
Big tubs that folk in Chicago barbeque
in and somehow when you talk
about home
it never gets across how much you
understood their feelings as the
whole family attended meetings

About Hollydale and even though you
remember your biographers never
understand your father's pain as he
sells his stock and another
dream goes
And though you’re poor it isn't
poverty that concerns you and
though they fought a lot
it isn't your father's drinking that
makes any difference but only that

Everybody is together and you
and your sister have happy birthdays
and very good Christmases and I
really hope no white person ever has
cause to write about me
because they never understand
Black love is Black wealth and they'll
probably talk about my hard childhood
and never understand that
all the while I was quite happy.”

The impact of poetry on mental health and wellness

Poetry can significantly impact mental health and wellness, whether you’re writing, reading, or listening to it. Below is some research on the importance of poetry and expressive writing. 

Research on the importance of poetry 

Below are a few studies on poetry: 

• A 2011 paper reports that expressive writing can lead to significant health improvements and increased overall well-being. 
• Research on poetry during the COVID-19 pandemic suggests that it helped reduce loneliness and allowed readers and writers to slow down and positively revisit memories. 
• Poetry may promote self-love and love toward others in one’s community, according to South College. 
• Appreciating and reading poetry can improve the mental health and personality traits of college students. 
• Reading and writing poetry was associated with reduced sadness, anger, worry, and fatigue in psychiatric patients in a mental health hospital setting. 
• Some research suggests that writing poetry may help improve the mental health of high school students. 

How to use poetry as a tool and how to become a poet 

You can use poetry as a tool in your life, regardless of whether you have been trained in writing or not. Below are a few ways to start. 

Poetry for self-help

Poetry is often used to write about life experiences from a lens of emotion and recounting details. You can use poetry as a self-help tool by writing for yourself, even if you never decide to show your work to others. Try not to expect a certain form. Although you might have learned how to write specific types of poetry in school or have been told the importance of following a structure, free-form poetry is just as valid as structured poetry. In this type, you can write anything that comes to mind, have as many words, sentences, or stanzas as you want, and it doesn’t have to rhyme.  

Poetry for communication 

Poetry can sometimes intend to communicate a message, such as Nikki’s poetry about the importance of Black joy and Black family. In these poems, the audience is people who relate to the author or are part of a specific group. When poetry is written or spoken to an audience, it often intends to elicit specific emotions or cause people to think. If you want to do activism through poetry, you might try writing poetry like this, in which you express a message that you want others to consider more profoundly. Many spoken word poets write poems specifically intended to cause an emotional shift in the audience and incite change. 

Poetry prompts inspired by Virginia Tech University distinguished professor Nikki Giovanni 

Below are a few poetry prompts to get started on writing if you’re unsure what to write about, inspired by Nikki Giovanni’s poetry:  

• Write about a grandparent 
• Write about a joyous moment in your childhood
• Explore what family means to you 
• Discuss the meaning of restricted freedom 
• Write about the feeling of falling in love 
• Recall the moment of your child’s birth 
• Explore the sensations of love
• Talk about what activism means to you based on your identity 
• If applicable, write about being a Black woman in the US today 

The role of creativity in being a poet 

Many people believe poetry should follow a specific form. However, creativity is a significant part of the writing process for many people. Since poetry is an expressive and emotional art form, try not to pressure yourself to create in any one way. Not everyone will identify with the work of any one poet, but that doesn’t mean the work doesn’t hold value. For example, even though there are critics of many major poets’ works, these poets have all published anthologies, accepted awards, and received recognition for their art. If you want to write, don’t give up on yourself. 

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Mental health support options 

Reading and writing poetry can bring up many emotions, some of which may be difficult to decipher. If you’re interested in receiving mental health support but don’t know where to start, talking to a therapist through an online platform like BetterHelp may be beneficial. Online, you can connect with a therapist via phone, video, or live chat. In addition, you can share your poetry with your therapist via the platform’s messaging or journaling features, receiving a response from your therapist when they are available. 

Studies suggest that online therapy can be effective for addressing common mental health challenges, such as depression and anxiety. For example, one study indicates that online therapy may be even more effective in reducing symptoms of these conditions than face-to-face therapy. In addition, the intervention was considered more cost-effective and led to an improved quality of life for the participants. 

Takeaway 

Nikki Giovanni was a prolific poet, activist, and public figure who wrote about family, love, life, and positivity. In the wake of her passing, exploring her works and the mental health impacts of poetry can be a way to connect with her memory. If you’re looking for mental health support and guidance, consider seeking support from a therapist online or in your area.