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“Woman Poem” by Nikki Giovanni (1971)
Giovanni writes “Woman Poem” in the voice or persona of a stereotypical Black woman. It plays on the preconceived notions people have of what it means to be a woman—oppressed, destitute, and subservient to men. The speaker outlines how women never really give each other a smile but rather feel suspicious of one another and have their “whole life / [...] tied up / to unhappiness” (Lines 1-3). A reader could view this poem as the antithesis or opposite of “Poem for a Lady Whose Voice I Like.” It shows how women often are, or are thought of, at their worst, whereas “Poem for a Lady Whose Voice I Like” shows them at their best.
“Howl (for Nina Simone)” by Nikki Giovanni (2007)
This is a poem Nikki Giovanni wrote for her friend Nina Simone. She references the many struggles Simone had in her life, such as searching for a higher purpose and having the American government (J. Edgar Hoover) set against her. Yet Simone kept singing, and in this poem, Giovanni encourages her to keep singing. She then encourages others to keep listening as she sings along with “Lorraine and Langston,” meaning Lorraine Hansberry and Langston Hughes, two prominent Black authors.
By Nikki Giovanni
Dreams
Dreams
Nikki Giovanni
Ego Tripping
Ego Tripping
Nikki Giovanni
Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Nikki Giovanni
Mothers
Mothers
Nikki Giovanni
Quilts
Quilts
Nikki Giovanni
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks
Nikki Giovanni
Walking Down Park
Walking Down Park
Nikki Giovanni
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