Yolande Cornelia Giovanni Jr, known as Nikki Giovanni, had written several enticing love poems in addition to covering social and racial issues that now her wife, Virginia C. Fowler, holds close to her heart.
Born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, Nikki Giovanni was a fierce woman who stood her ground until her last breath. She began her writing career after graduating with a B.A. degree in history.
Giovanni was an active member of the Black Arts Movement in the 1960s and gave birth to her only child, Thomas Watson. However, during that time, being a single mother wasn’t to her advantage.
Regardless of the difficulties, Giovanni continued to excel at her writing and claimed that the birth of her son helped her realize that children have different interests and require different content.
Yolande Cornelia “Nikki” Giovanni Jr, a pioneer
— Head DEI-C (@kivonshe) December 10, 2024
7 Jun 1945 – 9 Dec 2024
“Well then, one of the performances must stop”
Relevant to this day. We love you forever, Nikki#NikkiGiovanni pic.twitter.com/BeNGVpFS7C
Moreover, she began working on poetry and books for children. Fate played its cards right and led Giovanni to Virginia C. Fowler. The pair initially shared a professional relationship that later became romantic.
Fowler is an Emerita Professor at the Department of English at the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Previously, she completed her literature degree at the University of Kentucky and the University of Pittsburgh.
Additionally, the couple strengthened their bond through their shared love for language and creativity. Fowler currently teaches courses in African-American literature to women writers.
Nikki Giovanni often mentioned that her wife was her biggest source of inspiration. As if losing sense in Fowler’s affection, the author once penned, “I wrote a good omelet … and ate a hot poem …after loving you.“
Nikki Giovanni was one of the first authors to write about Black queer stories!
Giovanni acted as an independent artist throughout her career and toured the country. At 29, she sold out the 1,000-plus seats at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall.
By 1971, the author had published a memoir, Gemini: An Extended Autobiographical Statement on My First Twenty-Five Years of Being a Black Poet. Soon after its release, the book received an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5.
NIKKI GIOVANNI. I’ve interviewed her. I’ve read poetry in same space as her. I published her. In awe of her, last saw her do poetry at jazz fest in New York in Summer. Great influence on my poetry. Heart is heavy. Giant writer, wonder of a human being. Rest Ms. Giovanni, rest. pic.twitter.com/4a1JgzhDYw
— Kevin Powell (@kevin_powell) December 10, 2024
Further, Giovanni explored concepts of homosexual relations through her works. She emphasized that men and women were not meant to live together.
In addition to such writings, the author created several poetry and books addressing the horrors of the civil rights movement after Emmett Till’s extermination.
Over her career, Giovanni became comfortable talking about her past and added that her abusive father made her leave her home. Such a troublesome family life led to poetry as an escape.
I’m legitimately sad about Ms. Nikki Giovanni leaving this life, because I really wanted to talk to her in the flesh. ❤️🩹🥹🤩😇🤩🥹❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/LDwsmZAdUA
— Lauren Ulia 🤩🧍🏽♀️🤩 (@Leauxness) December 10, 2024
After committing over three decades to writing, the author claimed she didn’t think about leaving behind a significant legacy.
During her final interview with NPR, Giovanni added, “Because it gets you caught up in your life, and your life is not about your life, your life is your duty.“
She added that her family and her children were the only important thing in her life. Giovanni had described her wife as not her partner but a bench who always had her back through thick and thin.
Additional Information
- Virginia Fowler was one of the prominent members who produced Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project in 2023. The documentary provided a closer look at Giovanni’s life and writing process.
- Sources estimate that Nikki Giovanni’s net worth is at least $2 million, while her wife earns between $55,000 and $83,500 annually.
