Nikki Giovanni, Beloved Poet and Activist, Dies at 81

Nikki Giovanni, the iconic poet and activist, has died at 81.

She passed peacefully at home on Monday, Dec 9, after battling a third cancer diagnosis, with her partner, Virginia Fowler, by her side.

Known for her unapologetic celebration of Black life, Giovanni’s work has defined a generation.

Her debut collection, Black Feeling, Black Talk (1968), captured the fire of the Civil Rights Movement. Poems like Ego-Tripping, Knoxville, Tennessee, and Nikki-Rosa became classics, celebrating Black pride and resilience.

Other standout works include Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day, Love Poems, and her children’s book Rosa, which won a Caldecott Honor.

Giovanni wrote more than 20 books over her career and earned countless honors, including an NAACP Image Award, the Langston Hughes Medal, and a National Book Award nomination.

As a professor at Virginia Tech, she inspired students for decades.

Through it all, she stayed bold, fearless, and true to her voice. Nikki Giovanni’s legacy is one of love, truth, and unapologetic Black joy.