On Thursday the 13th I went to Valencia Community College to hear Nikki Giovanni speak, what a thrill. Dr. Giovanni is one of the most widely read and respected poets in the world and while you may (or may not) agree with everything she says you have to respect how committed she is to telling her own truth. If anyone encapsulates the phrase "to thine own self be true" it's her. She spoke on a wide variety of topics including Michael Vick, (who was once her student at Virginia Tech) Bill Cosby, (whose comments on the black community to step up and do for self was something she was none too thrilled about) Rosa Parks, (who was the topic of a book that Dr. Giovanni has written about) and the need for more poets of color to get a postage stamp in their honor.
Nikki Giovanni has been on the front lines for poetry and education for years and when I finally got a chance to meet her and give her a kiss on both cheeks I felt like I was kissing history. Being back on a college campus made me realize even more how lucky all the students are to be getting an education and the importance of getting as much out of that experience as possible. As for her poems I would recommend "Kidnap poem", "Ego-tripping", "Nikki-rosa", "Knoxville, Tennessee", "Alone" and "Communication".
While I'm talking about poetry I hope everyone reads a book called "Immersed in Verse" by Allan Wolf. It should be mandatory reading for teachers and students in all schools. It will change the way you look at poetry I guarantee it.
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