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Nikki Giovanni Kicks Off Black History Month at Southern University

By Stephanie Rogers
Black College Wire

Students, faculty and staff lined all four walls in the Cotillion Ballroom of the Smith-Brown Memorial Union on Thursday, Jan. 31, to hear world-renowned poet and activist Nikki Giovanni share her insight on issues ranging from black history to civic responsibility to noted figures like Tupac Shakur.

Brittany Thornton/Southern Digest Nikki Giovanni speaking at Southern University, Baton Rouge

Giovanni visited Southern as a part of the lecture series sponsored by the Motivational Speakers Series committee. The audience of more than 600 listened attentively; the eruption of laughter and utterances in agreement were the only interruptions of the silence.

Giovanni, an English professor at Virginia Tech University, spoke about the importance of alumni giving back to their schools. A graduate of Fisk University -- an institution that has reportedly experienced financial difficulties -- Giovanni not only encouraged students to give $50 monthly back to their schools once they graduate, but also said her alma mater is not going to close anytime soon.

"It is important that you contribute back. You need to put your money where your mouth is," said Giovanni. "You have to keep the things that make you who you are."

Taking action and responsibility in life was a theme in Giovanni's lecture. She said she hoped everyone in the room was registered to vote. Not knowing the issues, said Giovanni, "is no excuse to not vote." The poet said her generation "came through too much for you to pass this privilege."

"Whatever it is you want to do here (Baton Rouge), you need to have an impact here," said Giovanni, advising students to register to vote in the area since they live and attend school here. "And join the NAACP."

Throughout her life, Giovanni has always acted-often through her words and speech-to demand equality for her people. During the Civil Rights movement, Giovanni, along with a group of writers, wrote poems and other bodies of work that protested the social injustices of that time. Their work was a part of what was called the Black Arts Movement.

Giovanni's inclination for storytelling was obvious as she related details of the murder of Emmett Till by whites in Mississippi.

She also talked about Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery. Giovanni said both events were precursors for the Civil Rights movement.

Brittany Thornton/Southern Digest

Giovanni had many thoughts about people who are making history -- or at least seemed to be -- in the 21st century. According to the poet, why Britney Spears garners so much attention is a wonder to her.

Bill Cosby needs to "sit down and eat jello," said the poet as she commented on the actor/comedian's controversial remarks about the need for black people to make improvements in several areas, including raising children.

"We (black mothers) are doing the best we can do," Giovanni said, adding, "If you don't like the way they (black boys) look, change their reality," she said, referring to the ridicule some black boys endure for the way they dress.

Earlier this month, Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman said that young players who want to play Tiger Woods should "lynch him in a back alley." The matter seemed to be handled after the anchor was suspended for two weeks and Woods' agent released a statement saying that Tiger knew there was no ill-intent in Tilghman' comments. But, Giovanni believes otherwise and that Woods should have said something.

"Sometimes you have to speak up about something. You have to go and get something called a backbone and put it on," said Giovanni.

But the poet did not frown upon all of today's noted public figures. She appreciates Tupac Shakur, a slain rapper and actor who was often called a poet and whose mother was a member of The Black Panther Party.

Giovanni showed the audience a tattoo of the words "Thug Life"-words often used by the rapper-as she spoke about Shakur's significance to hip-hop and American history, comparing the rapper to John F. Kennedy, Jr.

"Tupac and John Kennedy -- we lost two people who functioned differently but were America's sons," she said.

Giovanni departed by reciting some of her poems, including the popular "Ego-Tripping," prompting a standing ovation from the audience.

Many students at Southern University, according to Edna Hickman, chair of the Motivational Speakers Series Committee, wanted Giovanni to speak at Southern this year. Hickman said the committee strives to select speakers who can encourage students.

"We hope that they can relate to the speakers and see that they can be empowered," Hickman said.

Chelsea Washington, a sophomore accounting major from Lake Charles, said she did not want to miss a once-in-a lifetime chance to see Giovanni.

"It's Nikki Giovanni. A lot of things she said made you think (about). It made you want to be productive and not just sit down and watch the world as things happen. You want to do something and be a part of it."

Stephanie Rogers writes for the Southern Digest, Southern University's student newspaper.

Posted Feb. 4, 2008