“We need Black History Month at the very least to remind us to celebrate each other,” said Nikki Giovanni, a renowned poet. Giovanni spoke to a crowd of about 150 in Dana auditorium on Friday evening, Feb. 16, an event sponsored by Union in celebration of Black History Month.
Sporting a suit and tie, Giovanni addressed the audience, urging for change. “In this country, we have to find a way to have a public life we can be proud of because, right now, we don’t have a public life we can be proud of. It’s embarrassing, and we can do better.”
Giovanni also advocated change on a personal level, asking, “what’s the point of your life if you’re not giving anything back to us?”
Giovanni read some of her own poems, including “What We Miss — A Eulogy” and “Telephone Poems.” Intermingled with poems and various other words of wisdom was Giovanni’s classic wit, ranging in topic from an impression of Daisy Bates to nose picking.
Even Kentucky Fried Chicken fell under the scrutiny of Giovanni’s salty humor. Stopping only for a moment to give a coughing audience member water from her own bottle, Giovanni said, “And the Colonel … that white guy didn’t know diddley about fried chicken.”
Senior Stephanie Melesky, who skipped bowling to hear Giovanni speak, felt it was well worth the sacrifice. “She’s brilliant and it was awesome to see her captivate an entire audience,” Melesky said. “Her presence and her speech served to remind us and educate us that we do need to be more appreciative and more aware.”
Greg Keener, from the offices of Student Activities and Campus Planning, both enjoyed and appreciated Giovanni’s presentation. “I thought the evening was full of positive messages, and people seemed really receptive to that,” Keener said.
Giovanni’s message was one of hope and striving. Like the inspiring black women of generations past mentioned in her poem “What We Miss — A Eulogy”(appearing in Essence as part of their millennium celebration), Nikki Giovanni’s voice will remain in the minds of all who saw her, “urging us on.”