Nikki Giovanni Keynote Speaker

  • Award-winning author with 30 books to her name
  • Renowned poet
  • One of Oprah Winfrey's "25 Living Legends"

Nikki Giovanni's Biography

Nikki Giovanni is a world-renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator.

Over the past thirty years, her outspokenness, in her writing and in lectures, has brought the eyes of the world upon her. One of the most widely-read American poets, she prides herself on being, as she says, a Black American, a daughter, a mother, a professor of English. Giovanni remains as determined and committed as ever to the fight for civil rights and equality. She has maintained a prominent place as a strong voice of the Black community. Her focus is on the individual, specifically, on the power one has to make a difference in oneself, and thus, in the lives of others.

Nikki published her first book of poetry, “Black Feeling Black Talk” in 1968, and within the next year published a second book, thus launching her career as a writer. Early in her career she was dubbed the Princess of Black Poetry, and over the course of more than three decades of publishing and lecturing she has come to be called both a National Treasure and, most recently, one of Oprah Winfrey’s twenty-five Living Legends.

Nikki is the author of some of some 30 books for both adults and children, many for which she has received received honors and awards. Her autobiography, “Gemini” (1974), was a finalist for the National Book Award; “Love Poems”, “Blues: For All the Changes”, “Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea”, “Acolytes”, and “Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat” were all honoured with NAACP Image Awards.

Nikki is a University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Read More

Videos of Nikki Giovanni

Love, Work, Society (2012)
Love, Work, Society (2012)
On her book, Chasing Utopia (2013)
On her book, Chasing Utopia (2013)

Check Nikki Giovanni's speaking fees and availability

    Sending your message…

    Please wait, this can take a moment

    Message sent…

    Close

    Please provide your details and we’ll get in touch as soon as possible.

    We can only respond to requests for professional speaking engagements. We are unable to respond to requests for autographs, shoutouts and personalized messages.

    Discover other speakers

    David Lough Speaker
    Exclusive
    David Lough
    Historian, Author and Broadcaster
    Kathryn Schulz Speaker
    Exclusive
    Kathryn Schulz
    Author, Pulitzer Prize Winning journalist, and staff writer at The New Yorker
    Carole Cadwalladr Speaker
    Exclusive
    Carole Cadwalladr
    Pulitzer-Nominated Investigative Journalist
    Janan Ganesh Speaker
    Exclusive
    Janan Ganesh
    Associate Editor at the Financial Times
    Jeff Benedict Speaker
    Exclusive
    Jeff Benedict
    Best-Selling Author & Special Features Writer, Sports Illustrated
    Francis Wolff Speaker
    Exclusive
    Francis Wolff
    French Philosopher and Author
    Adrian Wooldridge Speaker
    Exclusive
    Adrian Wooldridge
    Global Business Columnist - Bloomberg
    Joel Salatin Speaker
    Exclusive
    Joel Salatin
    Sustainability & Food Policy Expert
    Georgina Godwin Speaker
    Exclusive
    Georgina Godwin
    Accomplished Speaker on geopolitics and skilled moderator
    Daisy Rogers Speaker
    Exclusive
    Daisy Rogers
    Professional artist, writer, creative director, Founder of Liberally and speaker on diversity