Nikki Giovanni is one of America’s foremost poets. She once said, “We write because we believe the human spirit cannot be tamed and should not be trained.” This Saturday, she’ll give a free poetry reading at Emory’s Schwartz Center.
“City Lights” host Lois Reitzes spoke with her earlier this week about her life, poetry and influences.
Her breakout hit was a collection of poetry called “Black Feeling, Black Talk, Black Judgement.” The works first emerged from the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, which launched her career as a celebrated and controversial poet. She fearlessly writes about America’s political and poetic landscape. Throughout all of her poetry are recurring themes of family, food and people who have influenced her life — from her mother and grandmother to actress Ruby Dee and poet Maya Angelou.
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