In March 1969, the Fisk graduate made a literary splash in New York City as she promoted her new volume of poetry, Black Judgement. [John Oliver] Killens helped to sponsor an event at Lloyd Price’s Turntable, at which three dollars gained patrons admission plus an autographed copy of Giovanni’s book. On hand to perform were Jaci Early, Larry Neal, Barbara Ann Teer, Piri Thomas, Lorenz Graham, Jimmy Radcliff, and a relatively unknown thirty-two-year-old actor, Morgan Freeman.
----from John Oliver Killens: A Life of Black Literary Activism
I consumed almost all the Black poetry the library had on hand, works such as Black Fire, edited by Amiri Baraka and Larry Neal; The New Black Poetry, edited by Orde Coombs; and Soulscript, edited by June Jordan. I also kept track of the slim volumes coming from Broadside Press and Third World Press, which I jumped on as if they were the latest soul records. That’s how I first read the poetry of Marvin X, Doughtry Long, Carolyn Rodgers, Johari Amini, Nikki Giovanni, Jayne Cortez, Don. L. Lee (later known as Haki Madhubuti), and others associated with the Black Arts Movement. … On separate occasions, Nikki and Jayne came to the library to read. Nikki’s reading captivated the audience---everyone thirsted for the exciting “Ego Tripping,” with its Langston-like (he’s everywhere) “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” echoes. She offered commentary about a writing career. From her I learned about a kill fee, that is, money that a magazine paid if it contracted for an article but decided in the end not to publish it. For “killing” the piece, the magazine paid half of the original amount to the writer. I have never had to use that information. It just felt exciting to be put on game.
----from The Promise of Language: A Memoir
and if ever i touched a life i hope that life knows
that i know that touching was and still is and will always
be the true
revolution
----from Nikki Giovanni’s “When I Die”
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