Nikki Giovanni was a brilliant poet, a big-hearted educator, and an unapologetic voice for justice and equality.
As a leading voice of the Black Arts Movement, she used her poetry to celebrate Black joy and resilience - while also speaking out for racial and social justice.
Nikki was committed to lifting up the next generation too. Over more than three decades as an educator, she empowered her students to express themselves through creative writing, mentoring hundreds of them along the way.
Throughout her career, Nikki never stopped demanding, and fighting for, an America that lives up to our highest ideals: of freedom, opportunity, fairness, and dignity for all. She leaves behind a storied legacy - in literature, education, and in the fight for a more just America.
Doug and I send our prayers to her family, and to all who were touched by her work.
