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Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie Councilmember Anita Bonds 3
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Councilmember Christina Henderson C ouncilmember Janeese Lewis George 8
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Councilmember Matthew Frumin Councilmember Charles Allen 14
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Councilmember Zachary Parker 20
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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 27
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 30
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To celebrate the life and achievements of Nikki Giovanni as a poet, author, professor and civil activist. 34
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni organized the first African American arts festival in Cincinnati, Ohio; 36
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was a centerpiece of the Black Arts Movement; 38
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni participated in National Poetry Month Celebrations in Anacostia; 40
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WHEREAS, advanced art in the District of Columbia by reciting her poetry at the Kenndy Center 42
for Performing Arts; 43
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WHEREAS, Mayor Vincent Gray proclaimed July 13th “Nikki Giovanni Day” in the District of 45
Columbia; 46
47 WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni founded her own publishing company, Niktom Limited, which 48
advanced the work of Black women writers, including Gwendolyn Brooks, Mari Evans, Carolyn Rodgers, 49
and Margaret Walker; 50
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni sold out theaters across the country, reciting her poems focused on 52
race, politics, gender and love; 53
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni self-published her first two books, “Black Feeling Black Talk” and 55
“Black Judgment” and is the author of more than 30 books, many of which are for children; 56
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni’s autobiography “Gemini” was finalist for the 1973 Book Award; 58
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni held teaching positions at Rutgers, Queens College and Virginia 60
Tech; 61
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2004 for her album, “The 62
Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection”; 63
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Honor from Dillard 65
University, the 2016 Literary Lifetime Achievement Award from the Library of Virginia, and the 66
Caldecott Honors Award; 67
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WHEREAS, in 2022, Ms. Giovanni was conferred the title of University Distinguished Professor 69
Emerita by Virginia Tech in recognition of her exemplary service to the university; 70
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was a lifelong advocate of LGTBQ+ rights and visibility; 72
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was the recipient of the Langston Hughes Medal; four lifetime 74
achievement awards, including the Maya Angelou Lifetime Achievement Award; the Rosa Parks Woman 75
of Courage Award; three governor’s awards in arts and humanities; seven N.A.A.C.P. Image Awards; 76
three lifetime, and thirty-one honorary doctorates; 77
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was named Woman of the Year by Ebony Magazine, Mademoiselle 79
Magazine, Ladies Home Journal, and the Cincinnati YWCA; 80
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WHEREAS, Oprah Winfrey honored Ms. Giovanni as one of 25 “Living Legends”; 82
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was an Emmy Award winner, including most recently a 2024 Emmy 84
for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking for her film “Going to Mars: the Nikki Giovanni 85
Project”; 86
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni is the namesake of a newly found species of bat, Micronycteris 88
giovanniae; 89
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni published her book “Blues: For All the Changes” about her battle with 91
cancer; 92
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was honored with historical markers in Knoxville, Tennessee, and 94
Lincoln Heights, Ohio; 95
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was named one of the Library of Virginia’s “Virginia Women in 97
History”; 98 99
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni is set to release a posthumous book of poetry, “The Last Book,” in fall 100
2025; 101
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was a member of the Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star and the 103
Wintergreen Women Writers Collective; 104
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni is the recipient of the keys to the city for Dallas, Miami, New York 106
City, and Los Angeles; 107
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RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRIC T OF COLUMBIA, that the Council of the 109
District of Columbia recognizes the inspirational and fascinating life of Nikki Giovanni and honors her 110
legacy of literary achievement. 111
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Sec. 2. This resolution may be cited as the “Nikki Giovanni Memorial Recognition Resolution of 113
2024”. 114
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Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the 116
District of Columbia Register. 117
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