PVAMU’s Inaugural Writer-in-Residence Nikki Giovanni visits “The Hill” (3320 hits)
It was an exciting week for Prairie View A&M University faculty, staff and students. The university held multiple events to culminate the year-long appointment of its inaugural Writer-in-Residence, Nikki Giovanni, under PVAMU’s Toni Morrison Writing Program.
The award-winning creative legend began her visit on Tuesday at Houston’s Ensemble Theatre with a private lecture entitled “The Inimitable Nikki Giovanni: Reading, Reflecting and Rejoicing.”
“I hardly imagined two years ago that an effort to bring the arts into flourishing and sharp relief at Prairie View would result in an evening of this moment. But here we are,” said President Ruth J. Simmons. “The magnificent Nikki Giovanni has been our guide and our inspiration, our prod and our teacher for many decades. We are delighted to have her with us as the inaugural writer-in-residence in the Toni Morrison Writing Program. And would Toni be pleased, Nikki; she would be so pleased to know that you are here doing this work.”
During the event, Giovanni received proclamations from Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and Harold Dutton (D-TX) and the City of Houston, declaring April 12, 2022, Nikki Giovanni Day.
“I was thrilled when Drs. Simmons and Emma Joahanne Thomas-Smith invited me to be a part of this; I am very pleased, and of course, I love Toni Morrison. She was a very close friend. And to be invited to be a part of the Toni Morrison Writing Program is an honor,” Giovanni said.
Giovanni read pieces of her work and provided invaluable lessons to the audience. Her full talk can be viewed on PVAMU’s official YouTube channel.
