Poet Nikki Giovanni in NPR's Studio 3A.

Nikki Giovanni began to emerge in the 1960s as a strong voice in the literary world. Crowned "Princess of Black Poetry" by The New York Times, Giovanni's poetry has always been edgy, intimate and unapologetic. Her poems have included homages to people like Aretha Franklin and Betty Shabazz. She writes about racism, the black power movement, feminism, police brutality and "gangsta rap." She also writes about love, longing and loneliness.

Read poems from Giovanni's latest collection, Blues for All the Changes:
"Sunday"
"And How Could I Live On"

Hear Weekend Edition Sunday's Liane Hansen chat with Nikki Giovanni.

This page and all contents are © 1999, National Public Radio.