Renowned poet Nikki Giovanni recited poems and spoke on politics, her childhood and the black community to begin Black History Month on Wednesday.

A crowd of more than 100 students, alumni and guests warmly greeted Giovanni, who is commonly called “the Princess of Black Poetry,” with a standing ovation at the Tull Auditorium at the School of Law.

Giovanni discussed the current status of the black community.

“You can’t always look at the problems,” Giovanni said. “We [the black community] are moving forward. We have a man that’s in line to be the president of the United States. I think it’s thrilling, exciting.”

She expressed her support for the current generation and its problems.

“We are putting these kids in horrible conditions and getting mad at how they deal with it. We need to face this reality,” Giovanni said with a serious tone.

Giovanni revealed her personal side when she discussed the origins of her new book Acolyte, a collection of poems that she began writing beside her dying mother. She then recited “I am in Mexico,” a poem about her mother.

Two of the poems Giovanni recited were inspired by Rosa Parks. For one of them, “The Rosa Parks,” Giovanni performed a dance that accompanies the words — a twist resembling a repeated movement of sitting down and standing back up.
“Do the Rosa Parks!” rapped Giovanni as she danced and threw her fist in the air.

“I just don’t see how people go through life without old ladies,” Giovanni said jokingly after talking about her friendship with Parks.

A down-to-earth Giovanni showed her humorous side saying that Martin Luther King Jr. would have braids and a tattoo if he were alive today.

“I have a tattoo. Mine says ‘thug life,’” Giovanni said, then rolled up her left sleeve to reveal her body art, in memory of Tupac Shakur, to a laughing audience.

The Black Student Caucus, an organization in the Candler School of Theology devoted to strengthening black identity and awareness around campus, organized Giovanni’s visit to Emory, the first of many events planned for Black History Month.

Mark Jefferson, a third-year graduate student at the theology school and president of the Black Student Caucus, said the organization chose Giovanni to speak because of her wealth of knowledge and accomplishments in black and American history.

“She is one of the jewels of African American history, and we believe that she has something very relevant to say, not only from a theological perspective but from a cultural, social and political one,” Jefferson said.

He said the Black Student Caucus was very pleased with Nikki Giovanni’s visit to Emory.

“We planned a full month of activities, and there was nobody better who could begin this endeavor,” Jefferson said.

College freshman Ashlee Hafford said she enjoyed Giovanni’s speech, especially after studying her in her poetry class this semester.

“I like the fact that she addresses so many issues in her poetry. She is a real person and I admire her so much,” Hafford said as she waited in the long line for Giovanni’s autograph.

Giovanni ended the evening with some stunning — really remarkable — parting words.

“I’m in favor of sex. Its fun! You have to find a way to stay sane and give back,” said a smiling Giovanni.

— Contact Andrea Lewis.