Nikki Giovanni, a fierce and lyrical voice of the Black experience, has died. Giovanni's work illuminated love, liberation and the unyielding power of self-expression. Tributes are pouring in from across the country as admirers and friends mourn the passing of a literary legend.
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- What are some of the themes or topics of Nikki Giovanni's poems?
- How did Giovanni criticize some strategies or figures of the Civil Rights movement?
- Where did Giovanni provide words of comfort after a shooting incident?
- Who is Kwame Alexander?
- Why does Alexander say that Giovanni was an inspiration for many?
Focus Questions
- After watching this segment, what do you think is most notable about Nikki Giovanni's life and career?
- Media literacy: Do you think news channels should focus more on the lives and impact of art and artists? Why or why not?
Extension Activity
Listen to Nikki Giovanni read her poem "Knoxville, Tennessee" below (or read it here) and discuss:
- How does Giovanni create images of a certain time and place using words?
- What parts of the text reveal that Giovanni's visits to Knoxville were important to her has a child?
If there is time, try writing your own poem about a place that you visited when you were younger (or still do!) that follows the same form as "Knoxville, Tennessee."
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS NewsHour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of NewsHour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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