More of Nikki Giovanni’s “work” from Wikipedia
Works
Giovanni has had a successful career as a poet, earning her the nickname “The Princess of Black Poetry” in the late 60s and early 70s. The civil rights and black power movements inspired her early poetry that was collected in Black Feeling, Black Talk (1967), Black Judgement (1968), and Re: Creation (1970). She has since written more than two dozen books including volumes of poetry, illustrated children’s books, and three collections of essays.
Giovanni’s writing has been heavily inspired by African American activists and artists. She has a tattoo with the words “Thug life” to honor Tupac Shakur, whom she admired.[5][6] Her book Love Poems (1997) was written in memory of him, and she has stated that she would “rather be with the thugs than the people who are complaining about them.”[7] She also tours nationwide and frequently speaks out against hate-motivated violence. At a 1999 Martin Luther King Day event, she recalled the 1998 murders of James Byrd, Jr. and Matthew Shepard: “What’s the difference between dragging a black man behind a truck in Jasper, Texas, and beating a white boy to death in Wyoming because he’s gay?”[8]
Giovanni has received numerous honors for her contributions to literature and society. She has received more than twenty honorary degrees from national colleges and universities and has been given keys to more than a dozen cities in the United States, including New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, and New Orleans. Giovanni has been named woman of the year by several magazines, including Mademoiselle, Ladies’ Home Journal, Ebony, and Essence. She has been awarded the Langston Hughes Medal for Outstanding Poetry and was the first recipient of the Rosa Parks Woman of Courage Award. She is also the recipient of three NAACP Image Awards and an a honorary membership of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.[9][10]
Those Who Ride the Night Winds (1983) acknowledged notable black figures. Giovanni collected her essays in the 1988 volume Sacred Cows...and Other Edibles. Her most recent works include Acolytes and On My Journey Now.
She also featured on the track Ego Trip By Nikki Giovanni on Blackalicious’ 2000 album Nia.
Unfortunately, her sort are icons and far too common throughout academia.
Too bad they're in such dangerous places.