Renowned poet, activist, author, and professor Nikki Giovanni has passed away at the age of 81. Giovanni, a celebrated figure in the Black Arts Movement, was known for her powerful poems filled with wit, wisdom, and wonder. Her work was widely admired, appearing in children’s books, at keynote speeches, on television shows, and in over two dozen bestselling poetry collections. Giovanni died peacefully on December 9, 2024, with her life partner, Virginia “Ginney” Fowler, by her side, according to a statement from her close friend and fellow writer, Renée Watson.
In a message on behalf of Giovanni’s family, Allison Ragan expressed the family’s deep gratitude for the privilege of sharing in Giovanni’s legacy and love. The statement did not specify the cause of Giovanni’s death.
Nikki Giovanni, known for her advocacy on civil rights and social issues, particularly related to gender and race, was a passionate and influential figure. Throughout her career, she published numerous volumes of poetry, essays, and anthologies, as well as more than 10 children’s books. Giovanni served as a professor at Virginia Tech in the Department of English from 1987 until her retirement, holding the title of Emerita Professor.
In 2024, Giovanni was honored with an Emmy Award for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking for the film Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project. Her most recent poetry collection, The Last Book, is set to be released in the fall of 2025.
Born on June 7, 1943, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Yolande Cornelia “Nikki” Giovanni earned a degree in history from Fisk University in 1967.
In a brief biography on her website, Nikki Giovanni shared that her dream was never to become a published author or writer. Instead, she aspired to discover something unique that no one else had thought of. She explained that this is likely why she became a poet, as poets have the ability to connect ideas in ways that others do not.
The announcement from Renée Watson highlighted that Nikki Giovanni, as a key figure in the Black Arts and Civil Rights Movements, formed friendships with influential individuals such as Rosa Parks, Aretha Franklin, James Baldwin, Nina Simone, and Muhammad Ali. Giovanni’s work inspired countless students, artists, activists, musicians, scholars, and people of all ages.
Nikki Giovanni is survived by her wife, Virginia Fowler, as well as her son, Thomas Giovanni, and granddaughter, Kai Giovanni. She is also survived by her cousins, Allison “Pat” Ragan and Haynes Ford, and her nephew, Christopher Black.
One of Giovanni’s poems reflects on her life and the way she hoped to be remembered. She wrote, “I hope I die warmed by the life that I tried to live.”
