Nikki Giovanni is one of the world’s best known Black poets. She became famous in the 60s as part of the Black Arts Movement and went on to write more than 2 dozen volumes of poetry and 11 illustrated children’s books. She’s received the NAACP Image Award seven times and has taught at Virginia Tech from 1987 until she retired in 2022. We talk about the new documentary about her that’s on Max, GOING TO MARS: THE NIKKI GIOVANNI PROJECT:

– Why a trip to Mars can be understood by Black women

– Who determined the artistic design and concept of the film?

– Getting Taraji Henson to read the narration

– Watching her interviews from the 70s

– Lighting James Baldwin’s cigarette during a TV interview

– Why she refused to answer a question

LINKS:
Nikki’s website
Going to Mars (on Max)
The poem that Paula wrote for Nikki
Screening of CURRENT, A Descendant’s Journey for Truth at the Library of Virginia

and here’s a poster with the dates/times for the other screenings in Virginia.