BLACKSBURG, Va. (WDBJ) – Virginia Tech professor and poet Nikki Giovanni has died at age 81. She died peacefully with her partner Virginia (Ginney) Fowler at her side.

Yolande Cornelia “Nikki” Giovanni, born June 7, 1943 in Knoxville, Tennessee, was a University Distinguished Professor in the English department at Virginia Tech. Giovanni, an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., has received hundreds of awards and honors. Most recently, she was awarded a 2024 Emmy for Exceptional Achievement in Documentary Film for “Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project.”

A prominent figure in the Black Arts and Civil Rights Movement, she befriended Rosa Parks, Aretha Franklin, James Baldwin, Nina Simone and Muhammad Ali and inspired generations of students, artists, activists, musicians, scientists and people young and old.

Having already battled cancer twice, Giovanni refused to let her art be interrupted a third time. Just three weeks ago, she performed with saxophonist Javon Jackson at the Louis Armstrong House in New York City. Her upcoming poetry collection “The Last Book” will be published in fall 2025.

“Poet Adrienne Rich wrote: ‘…somehow everyone helps each other live, and somewhere everyone must help each other die.’ Renée Watson and I, along with Ginney, family, and close friends, sat by her side and talked about how much we learned about life from her and how lucky we were to have Nikki guide, teach, and love us. We will forever be grateful for the unconditional time she gave to us and to all her literary children throughout the writing world,” said Kwame Alexander.

Giovanni is survived by her wife, Virginia Fowler, her son, Thomas Giovanni, her granddaughter, Kai Giovanni, two cousins, Haynes Ford and Allison (Pat) Ragan, and a nephew, Christopher Black.

“We will forever feel blessed to have shared a legacy and a love with our dear cousin,” Allison Ragan said on behalf of the family.

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