Nikki Giovanni

Born: 1943 in Tennessee

Died: 2024

She’s one of the most well-known African American poets, in both written (book) and spoken word.

Her works were greatly influenced by the civil rights movement and the black power movement.

She focuses on social concerns and race, often in a powerful and militant style… but also known for writing about kids topics too.

Her list of awards is huge, including the Langston Hughes Medal and the NAACP Image Award.

She has appeared in Soul, an African American Arts and culture show.

Said: “Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to the error that counts.”