BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) – A poet. An author. An educator. Those were just some of the words used to describe Nikki Giovanni, by her colleagues, friends, and those who loved her on social media. Giovanni was in her third battle with cancer, and sadly passed away on December 9th, with her lifelong partner, Virginia, by her side.
Giovanni was a renowned poet, and considered by many to be a major figure in the Black Arts, even being named one of 25 living legends by Oprah Whinfrey.
She taught English at Virginia Tech for more than three decades. She retired from the institution in 2022. Through out her retirement, she stayed busy by doing speeches, traveling and writing. She even performed some jazz just three weeks ago in New York.
Those at Virginia Tech say she left an enormous impact on the university, and more so, the world.
The Dean of the College of Arts and Letters and Human Sciences, a long-time friend of Giovanni, says she was “truly extraordinary,” and there will be no one like her.
“Her eboliance, and her kindness, and her fierce commitment to those she loved. Be it colleagues, fellow artists, causes and communities she cared for, her longtime partner, Virginia Tech: and she just brought all of that to the table. And then I just have to emphasize just how fun she was,” said Laura Belmonte, the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters and Human Sciences
The chair of the English department at Tech worked alongside Giovanni since 2007. She says that you can read so much online about Giovanni’s, but to know her was something else.
“For someone who was quite, I think, sassy, she always had a smile on her face, she was a ray of sunshine around here, she was a really kind person,” said Kelly Pender, the chair of the English department, “She and her wife gave their blood sweat and tears to this department and to this University. No one will be able to fill Nikkis shoes.”
At the memorial convocation after the2007 massacre on campus, Giovanni was asked to give the final statement. Both Belmonte and Pender agree that they could not describe the impact that speech had on the community, stating that showed just how much art can help to heal.
“We are Virginia Tech. The Hokie nation embraces our own and reaches out with open heart and a hand to those who offer their hearts and minds. We are strong and brave and innocent and unafraid. We are better than we think and not quite what we want to be,” said Giovanni.
Virginia Tech says Giovanni’s last poetry book will be released in the fall of 2025.