Last year on April 16, there was a terrible shooting at Virginia Tech. The horrific incident lead poet Nikki Giovanni, also a teacher at the school, to pen "We Are Virginia Tech."
But, Giovanni was nationally recognized long before she read her moving poem at the memorial service for the 32 victims of that shooting spree. She is listed as a distinguished member of Oprah Winfrey's 25 Living Legends, and she is also known for her work as a civil rights activist and for being a close friend of the late poet, author James Baldwin.
Giovanni, the author of over 20 books, was also recognized on this blog as the 2007 Person of the Year (see earlier entries). As we said at the time, she was chosen over political comedian Stephen Colbert who was first runner-up.
I had the chance to talk to Giovanni when I was a reporter in Christiansburg, Va., back in 1997.
On April 27, in recognition of National Poetry Month, Giovanni will be coming here to Greensboro with a talk at the historic Carolina Theatre downtown.
The free event starts at 3 p.m.
For more info, one can call Steve Sumerford at 336-373-3636.
A documentary about Walt Whitman, another poet from another era, airs nationally on PBS on Monday night at 9 p.m. as part of the "An American Experience" series. The broadcast will feature North Carolina author Allan Gurganus.
Useful Links:
http://www.nikkigiovanni.com
http://www.poetrygso.org
http://www.greensborolibrary.org
http://www.pbs.org
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