Nikki Giovanni - Social Activism Speaker Series

The Caltech Y Social Activism Speaker Series Presents
Nikki Giovanni
An Evening with
Nikki Giovanni
THURSDAY
FEBRUARY 9
7:30 PM
BECKMAN AUDITORIUM
on the
CALTECH CAMPUS
Yolande Cornelia “Nikki” Giovanni, Jr., born in
Knoxville, Tennessee, is a world-renowned poet,
writer, commentator, activist, and educator. One of the
most widely read American poets, she prides herself
on being “a Black American, a daughter, a mother, a
professor of English.” Giovanni remains as determined
and committed as ever to the fight for civil rights and
equality. Always insisting on presenting the truth as
she sees it, she has maintained a prominent place as
a strong voice of the Black community.
Nikki Giovanni has written more than two dozen
books, including volumes of poetry, illustrated
children’s books, and three collections of essays. She
has received 21 honorary doctorates and a host of
other awards, including “Woman of the Year” awards
from three different magazines as well as Governors’
Awards in the Arts from both Tennessee and Virginia.
Her three most recent volumes of poetry, Love
Poems, Blues: For All the Changes and Quilting the
Black-Eyed Pea, were winners of the NAACP Image
Award, in 1998, 2000, and 2003. Since 1987, she has
taught writing and literature at Virginia Tech, where
she is a University Distinguished Professor. The Nikki
Giovanni Poetry Collection, a spoken-word CD, was a
finalist for the 2003 Grammy Award in the category of
spoken word.
“There is always something to do. There are hungry people to feed, naked people
to clothe, sick people to comfort and make well. And while I don't expect you to
save the world I do think it's not asking too much for you to love those with whom
you sleep, share the happiness of those whom you call friend, engage those
among you who are visionary and remove from your life those who offer you
depression, despair and disrespect.”
Presented in collaboration with Vroman’s Bookstore, http://www.vromans.com/
For further details, go to the SASS website at: http://sass.caltech.edu/
or call the Caltech Y: (626) 395-6163
Parking is available on Michigan Avenue south of Del Mar Boulevard.
Beckman Auditorium is a two minute walk southeast of that lot.
The 2005-2006 Social Activism Speaker Series is made possible with the generous support of the Moore-Hufstedler Fund, Student
Affairs, Campus Life, the Diversity Program Fund, the Alumni Association, Jack & Edith Roberts, the GSC, and the Caltech Y.
Generous additional funding for this event was given by the Caltech Administrative Committee on Diversity and Minority Affairs.