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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
25-309
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
December 17, 2024
To celebrate the life and achievements of Nikki Giovanni as a poet, author, professor and civil
activist.
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni organized the first African American arts festival in
Cincinnati, Ohio;
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was a centerpiece of the Black Arts Movement;
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni participated in National Poetry Month Celebrations in
Anacostia;
WHEREAS, advanced art in the District of Columbia by reciting her poetry at the
Kenndy Center for Performing Arts;
WHEREAS, Mayor Vincent Gray proclaimed July 13th “Nikki Giovanni Day” in the
District of Columbia;
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni founded her own publishing company, Niktom Limited,
which advanced the work of Black women writers, including Gwendolyn Brooks, Mari Evans,
Carolyn Rodgers, and Margaret Walker;
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni sold out theaters across the country, reciting her poems
focused on race, politics, gender and love;
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni self -published her first 2 books, “Black Feeling Black Talk”
and “Black Judgment” and is the author of more than 30 books, many of which are for children;
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni’s autobiography “Gemini” was finalist for the 1973 Book
Award;
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni held teaching positions at Rutgers, Queens College and
Virginia Tech; ENROLLED ORIGINAL
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2004 for her album,
“The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection”;
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Honor from
Dillard University, the 2016 Literary Lifetime Achievement Award from the Library of Virginia,
and the Caldecott Honors Award;
WHEREAS, in 2022, Ms. Giovanni was conferred the title of University Distinguished
Professor Emerita by Virginia Tech in recognition of her exemplary service to the university;
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was a lifelong advocate of LGTBQ+ rights and visibility;
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was the recipient of the Langston Hughes Medal; 4 lifetime
achievement awards, including the Maya Angelou Lifetime Achievement Award; the Rosa Parks
Woman of Courage Award; 3 governor’s awards in arts and humanities; 7 N.A.A.C.P. Image
Awards; 3 lifetime, and 31 honorary doctorates;
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was named Woman of the Year by Ebony Magazine,
Mademoiselle Magazine, Ladies Home Journal , and the Cincinnati YWCA;
WHEREAS, Oprah Winfrey honored Ms. Giovanni as one of 25 “Living Legends”;
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was an Emmy Award winner, including most recently a 2024
Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking for her film “Going to Mars: the
Nikki Giovanni Project”;
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni is the namesake of a newly found species of bat,
Micronycteris giovanniae;
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni published her book “Blues: For All the Changes” about her
battle with cancer;
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was honored with historical markers in Knoxville, Tennessee,
and Lincoln Heights, Ohio;
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was named one of the Library of Virginia’s “Virginia Women
in History”;
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni is set to release a posthumous book of poetry, “The Last
Book,” in fall 2025;
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni was a member of the Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star
and the Wintergreen Women Writers Collective;
WHEREAS, Ms. Giovanni is the recipient of the keys to the city for Dallas, Miami, New
York City, and Los Angeles.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That the
Council of the District of Columbia recognizes the inspirational and fascinating life of Nikki
Giovanni and honors her legacy of literary achievement.
Sec. 2. This resolution may be cited as the “Nikki Giovanni Memorial Recognition
Resolution of 2024”.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.