Nikki Giovanni, the trailblazing poet, activist, author and professor whose words redefined Black literature and culture, passed away on Monday, December 9. She was 81 years old.
Giovanni died peacefully, with her wife, Virginia “Ginny” Fowler, by her side, according to WDJB News. Her death followed her third cancer diagnosis, though an official cause has not been confirmed.
With a career spanning more than five decades, Giovanni wove the fabric of the Black experience into poetry, essays, children’s books and anthologies. Her fearless exploration of race, gender and civil rights made her a clarion voice for justice and empowerment—a voice that shaped a generation.
Born Yolande Cornelia “Nikki” Giovanni on June 7, 1943, in Knoxville, Tennessee, she was deeply rooted in her African American heritage. As a teenager, she entered Fisk University through its “Early Entrant” program before finishing high school. At Fisk, she revitalized the campus chapter of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), edited the student literary magazine, and graduated with honors in history in 1967.
By the late 1960s, Giovanni emerged as a leading voice of the Black Arts Movement. Her debut poetry collections, Black Feeling, Black Talk and Black Judgement (both published in 1968), delivered unapologetic and militant calls for racial and social justice, earning her the title “Poet of the Black Revolution.”
Reflecting on her journey, Giovanni once said, “My dream was not to publish or even be a writer: my dream was to discover something no one else had thought of. I guess that’s why I’m a poet. We put things together in ways no one else does.”
Throughout her life, Giovanni forged bonds with cultural giants such as Rosa Parks, James Baldwin, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, and Muhammad Ali. “As one of the cultural icons of the Black Arts and Civil Rights Movements, she inspired generations of students, artists, activists, musicians, scholars, and human beings, young and old,” said friend and fellow writer Renée Watson in announcing Giovanni’s passing.
Giovanni’s influence extended beyond the page. In 2024, she earned an Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking for Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project. True to her tireless spirit, she continued working until her final days, preparing her latest book of poetry, The Last Book, for publication in fall 2025.
A beloved professor at Virginia Tech for over 35 years, Giovanni held the title of Emerita Professor in the Department of English. She was a mentor and trailblazer, opening doors for Black voices in academia while challenging her students to think boldly and fearlessly.
Giovanni is survived by her wife, Virginia Fowler; her son and granddaughter, Thomas and Kai Giovanni; and her extended family, including cousins Allison “Pat” Ragan and Haynes Ford, and nephew Christopher Black.
Even in her own words, Giovanni reflected on her life and legacy with poignant clarity: “I hope I die warmed by the life that I tried to live.”
Her warmth, her words and her vision will forever remain a guiding light for those who continue the fight for justice, love and creativity in Black communities and beyond.