Who Is Nikki Giovanni? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Nikki Giovanni was born on June 7, 1943, making her 81 years old in 2025. Recognized as one of the most significant poets and activists in America, Giovanni has had a profound impact on literature and social justice movements. Her work addresses themes of race, gender, and personal identity, making her a voice for the disenfranchised and marginalized. Giovanni's unique blend of personal experiences and sociopolitical commentary has earned her numerous awards and accolades throughout her career.
| Occupation | Activist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 7, 1943 |
| Age | 81 Years |
| Birth Place | Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 9 December, 2024 |
| Died Place | Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S. |
Popularity
Nikki Giovanni's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
As of 2025, Nikki Giovanni stands at approximately 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) tall and weighs around 130 pounds (59 kg). While exact measurements can vary, Giovanni has always been known for her elegant presence and charismatic personality.
Giovanni gained initial fame in the late 1960s as one of the foremost authors of the Black Arts Movement. Influenced by the Civil Rights Movement and Black Power Movement of the period, her early work provides a strong, militant African-American perspective, leading one writer to dub her the "Poet of the Black Revolution".
During the 1970s, she began writing children's literature, and co-founded a publishing company, NikTom Ltd, to provide an outlet for other African-American women writers. Over subsequent decades, her works discussed social issues, human relationships, and hip hop.
Poems such as "Knoxville, Tennessee" and "Nikki-Rosa" have been frequently re-published in anthologies and other collections.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Nikki Giovanni has been private about her personal life, but she has been known to have had significant relationships in the past. As of 2025, she has not publicly confirmed a boyfriend or partner, focusing instead on her literary and activist endeavors. Giovanni has a close bond with her family, including her son, Thomas Giovanni. Her experiences as a mother often inform her poetry and writings.
Yolande Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni Jr. and Jones "Gus" Giovanni. At age four, the family moved to Lincoln Heights, Ohio, near Cincinnati, where her parents worked at Glenview School. In 1948, the family moved to Wyoming, Ohio, and sometime in those first three years, Giovanni's sister, Gary, began calling her "Nikki".
In 1958, Giovanni returned to Knoxville to live with her grandparents and attend Austin High School. As a child, she was an avid reader. In 1960, she began her studies at her grandfather's alma mater, Fisk University in Nashville, as an "early entrant", which meant that she could enroll in college without having finished high school first.
Net Worth and Salary
As a celebrated poet and influential figure in literature, Nikki Giovanni's net worth is estimated to be between $2 million and $5 million in 2025. Her income comes from various sources including book sales, speaking engagements, and educational institutions where she teaches and conducts workshops. Giovanni's contributions to literature and culture have earned her a comfortable lifestyle, allowing her to continue her work as an educator and activist.
Giovanni was part of the 2016 Writer's Symposium by the Sea at Point Loma Nazarene University. University of California Television published Giovanni's readings at the symposium.
In October 2017, Giovanni published her collection A Good Cry: What We Learn from Tears and Laughter, which includes poems that pay homage to the greatest influences on her life who have died, including close friend Maya Angelou, who died in 2014. In 2017, Giovanni presented at a TEDx event, where she read the poem "My Sister and Me".
Career, Business, and Investments
Nikki Giovanni's career spans several decades, marked by groundbreaking poetry that reflects the struggles and triumphs of African Americans and women. She has authored numerous books, including "Black Feeling, Black Talk" and "A Good Cry," which have received critical acclaim. Giovanni is also a sought-after speaker and educator, currently serving as a distinguished professor at Virginia Tech.
In addition to her literary pursuits, Giovanni is involved in various investments that align with her passion for social justice and education. She often participates in community programs and initiatives that aim to uplift marginalized voices in society.
In 1970, Giovanni founded the publishing company NikTom, publishing her own work as well as supporting the work of other Black women writers, among them Gwendolyn Brooks, Mari Evans, Carolyn Rodgers, and Margaret Walker.
From 1970, she began making regular appearances on the television program Soul!, an entertainment/variety/talk show that promoted Black art and culture and allowed political expression. In addition to being a regular guest on the show, Giovanni for several years helped design and produce episodes.
Giovanni's conversation with James Baldwin on Soul!, filmed in London and broadcast in 1971 as a two-part special, is considered a defining moment in her career, and subsequently became a book.
She appeared on other television programs, including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1972, accruing such popularity that her 30th birthday celebration at the Lincoln Center filled a 3,000-seat hall. Between 1973 and 1987, she published multiple poetry anthologies and children's books, and released spoken-word albums.
Social Network
Nikki Giovanni actively engages with her audience through social media. She maintains a presence on platforms such as Twitter and Instagram, where she shares her thoughts on current events, poetry excerpts, and personal reflections. Her social media presence allows fans and followers to connect with her and gain insight into her perspectives on life and creativity.
In an interview entitled "I am Black, Female, Polite", A. Peter Bailey questioned her regarding the role of gender and race in her poetry. Bailey specifically addresses the critically acclaimed poem "Nikki-Rosa," and questions whether it is reflective of the poet's own childhood and her experiences in her community.
In the interview, Giovanni stresses that she did not like constantly reading the trope of the Black family as a tragedy and that "Nikki-Rosa" demonstrates the experiences that she witnessed in her communities. Specifically, the poem deals with Black folk culture and touches on gender, race, and social issues like alcoholism and domestic violence.
Education
Giovanni attended Fisk University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in history. She later pursued graduate studies at the University of Illinois. Her educational background has played a crucial role in shaping her views on race, identity, and the power of art as a form of activism. Giovanni has dedicated her life to educating others, inspiring countless students with her knowledge and passion for literature.
Giovanni taught at Queens College, Rutgers, and Ohio State, and was a University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech until she retired on September 11, 2022. After the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007, she delivered a well-received chant-poem at a memorial for the shooting victims.
