UPCOMING: A Virtual Evening with Nikki Giovanni

I am so pleased to announce that I will be moderating a virtual conversation with renowned poet and educator Dr. Nikki Giovanni, hosted by the Friends of the Florence County Library on Tuesday evening, November 16, at 7:00 p.m.

Dr. Giovanni was one of the great lights of the Black Arts Movement, which critic and playwright Larry Neal called the "aesthetic and spiritual sister of Black Power." The author of numerous poetry collections, children's books, and essays, Dr. Giovanni is currently a University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech, where she has worked since 1987.

A pre-recorded presentation by Dr. Giovanni will be available for viewing starting November 12 on the Library's website, florencelibrary.org.

It's a particular honor to moderate an event with someone whose work I've admired since adolescence. Here's a recording of her reading one of her most famous poems, "Ego Tripping," which I probably first read in middle school:

Please join us for what I'm sure will be a great conversation, and do help spread the word!

This virtual event is sponsored in part by SC Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities.