Nikki Giovanni :In Philadelphia

May 28, 2010 Nikki Giovanni, world renowned poet appeared in Philadelphia. She appeared as a guest of Art Sanctuary, the host of The 26th Annual Celebration of Black Writing Festival that is held May 28-29, 2010 in Philadelphia. She held a reading and a discussion at the Church of the Advocate. It was a wonderful setting. There was barely a seat left in church. Children and adults came from every part of the city to hear her speak. Her poetry was excellent but she offered more than her poetry to her repertoire. She spoke on a wide variety of subjects; Rosa Parks; The teabagger movement; and the connection between rap poetry and American art and literature.

Nikki feels that anyone who supports the teabagger movement” is a fool.”She feels that most of them have nothing to complain about. In fact it is nonsensical that anyone could believe that they should not have to pay taxes in a modern nation. She felt they were greedy and cruel people who really wanted to turn there millions into billions. She tied this into the general attitude of the right wing; an attitude that allowed children to receive less in education. These days it is acceptable to cut out: the gym; the library; the after school programs and pay teachers next to nothing in the American school system.

On the subject of Rosa Parks she delivered both a poem and eulogy to her late friend. She knew Rosa Parks and was close to her. She said that her death was untimely because she wished she were here so children of this generation could experience her. She knew how to say no. “No to those people who would deny freedom to others in this land.” Rosa Parks saw oppression in these United States and did something about it.

Nikki Giovanni was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is a city located in Eastern Tennessee. She says that when she grew up television had not really arrived and people in that region entertained each other by stories. She feels that storytelling is a traditional gift of the people of that region. She cites Dolly Parton a person who tells her stories through her songs.

Nikki Giovanni believed that the rap poetry movement was a contributing force in world literature. She felt that it was created in much the same way that classic literature was developed throughout the world. First, she felt it was developed from the songs and language of the people and although first vilified later rose to become classic forms of world literature.She cited Italian Renaissance culture and Moorish culture as examples. She says that she enjoys Tupac Shakur and believed that he was a major force in the development of rap poetry.

She felt that people needed information in order to write. Feeling is important but one must research and read other sources in order to have something to write about. Nikki Giovanni said she started writing poetry seriously while she was in college. In college she read a great deal of history, a subject she loves. She feels that this information provided her with the material she needed to create poetry.

Nikki Giovanni stated that she was glad to be in Philadelphia. She felt that the Philadelphia Sound, the music of Gamble and Huff had a tremendous impact on the music; culture and poetry in the United States.