Nikki Giovanni to lecture at UVa-Wise Nov. 14

Nikki Giovanni, perhaps the most widely read living poet in the United States, will present a lecture at The University of Virginia's College at Wise on Friday, Nov. 14. The event, which is free and open to the public, begins at 1 p.m. in the Chapel of All Faiths.

An award-winning author, poet and activist, Giovanni is University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech. Her recent collection of poems, Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea, has been described by Gwendolyn Brooks as "remarkable for energy, venturesomeness, direct honesty, and courage."

Her first volume of poetry, Black Feeling, Black Talk, published in 1968, established Giovanni as a prominent voice against racism, inequality and injustice. The author of more than two dozen volumes of poetry, numerous articles and essays and several spoken word recordings, Giovanni has been named Woman of the Year by Ebony (1970), Mademoiselle (1971), and Ladies' Home Journal (1972) magazines.

Giovanni has garnered numerous awards and accolades during her career. She received the Langston Hughes Medal for Outstanding Poetry in 1996 and two NAACP Image Awards, the first in 1997 for Love Poems and the other in 2000 for Blues: For All The Changes. She was presented Governor's Awards in the Arts from Tennessee in 1998 and Virginia in 2000. Giovanni is also the recipient of the Rosa Parks Woman of Courage Award.

A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Giovanni received a bachelor's degree with honors from Fisk University in 1967. She has been awarded honorary doctoral degrees from a host of institutions including Fisk University, Smith College, Ripon University, Indiana University, Widener University, and the University of Maryland.

For more information, contact the Office of College Relations at 276-328-0130.