Nikki Giovanni to speak at Southern University's motivational series

Nikki Giovanni

World-renowned poet, writer, activist, commentator, and educator Nikki Giovanni will speak at Southern University, Baton Rouge Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom of the Smith-Brown Memorial Student Union.

The distinguished professor at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg has been called both a "National Treasure" and one of Oprah Winfrey's 25 "Living Legends."

She has received numerous honors and awards for her works which include being named a finalist for the National Book Award for her autobiography, Gemini and received an NAACP Image Award for her books Love Poems, Blues: For All the Changes and Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea. Most recently her children's picture book Rosa, about civil rights legend Rosa Parks, has become a Caldecott Honors Book.

Her spoken word recordings have also achieved widespread recognition and honors. The album "Truth is on its Way" was a top 100 album and received the Best Spoken Word Album given by the National Association of Radio and Television Announcers and the "Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection," was one of five finalists for a Grammy Award.

Giovanni has been given several honors and awards. Some of which include being named the Woman of the Year by Mademoiselle Magazine, The Ladies Home Journal and Ebony Magazine. She was the first recipient of the Rosa L. Parks Woman of Courage Award and received the Langston Hughes Medal for poetry.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Edna Hickman at 225.771.3922.

Giovanni's visit is sponsored by Southern's Motivational Speakers Series and the Association of Women Students (AWS).