Nikki Giovanni

Jan 13, 2025 | hbook.com | Charly Palmer |Nikki Giovanni |Viviane Ezratty |Hélène Valotteau

This piece depicts and is dedicated to Darryl George, a young man in Texas who was given in-school suspension for the 2023–24 school year because of the way he wore his hair. All but one of his claims of discrimination were denied by a U.S. District Court judge, but his family continues to pursue justice in court. For me, this artwork is about something deeper than the case — it’s about DNA, identity, and how we define ourselves.

Jan 9, 2025 | hbook.com | Emma A. Shacochis |Maurene Goo |Nikki Giovanni |Paula Yoo

Cover (c) 2025 by Charly Palmer. FeaturesHorn Book Fanfare by Horn Book editorsOur choices for the best books of 2024. Boston Globe–Horn Book AwardsBGHB Awards Gallery 2024Celebrating the winners and honorees. Picture BookFictionNonfiction and PoetrySpecial Citation100 Years Old and Still Relevant by Dianne Johnson-Feelings and Jonda C. McNairA conversation about The Brownies’ Book.

Dec 10, 2024 | ctadams.com | Nikki Giovanni

i wanted to write a poem that rhymes but revolution doesn't lend itself to be-bopping then my neighbor who thinks i hate asked – do you ever write tree poems – i like trees so i thought i'll write a beautiful green tree poem peeked from my window to check the image noticed that the school yard was covered with asphalt no green – no trees grow in manhattan then, well, i thought the sky i'll do a big blue sky poem but all the clouds have winged low since no-Dick was elected so i thought again...

Dec 2, 2024 | newyorker.com | Nikki Giovanni

No matter how the wind and the stars carried the news The slaves knew Sherman was coming All they had to do was wait: As they sang the Spiritual “Why can’t I Wait on the Lord?” They had the patience to know He may not come When you call Him But He always comes on time My great great grandmother was a slave holding inside Her the first of our family to be born Free Sherman came burning the hate And greed freeing my ancestors My great great grandmother who had never seen her own face Carried...

Aug 21, 2024 | northendagents.com | Nikki Giovanni

By Nikki GiovanniI will raise my eyes to the mountains; from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord. —Psalms 121:1–2I think that this part of the psalm is the proper introduction to Appalachia because all of the Appalachians, all of the people, came here for comfort. But let’s just take it back a little bit. The rabbits, the groundhogs, the wolves before we killed them off, all found comfort in Appalachia. The trees, the bushes found comfort in Appalachia.