Keynote speech kicks off a month of Martin Luther King Jr. events
Nikki Giovanni
Salt Lake Community College and Westminster College welcome celebrated poet,
writer, activist and educator Nikki Giovanni to SLCC’s Grand Theatre on
Thursday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m., as the 2018 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative
Keynote speaker. The ticketed event is free and open to the public. Seats may
be reserved online at grandtheatrecompany.com.
Giovanni will read from her latest works, then be joined by
SLCC Poet Laureate, Lisa Bickmore for a follow-up conversation. This special
event is part of each institution’s 2018 Martin Luther King Jr. celebration and
the Bastian Foundation Diversity Lecture Series hosted by Westminster College.
Westminster and SLCC partnered to bring Giovanni, one of the most prominent
American poets, to Utah – making her inspiring words and presence available to
the community.
Giovanni
has been dubbed the “princess of black poetry,” a “national treasure” and one
of Oprah’s 25 Living Legends. Her poetry is both edgy and accessible. She
writes about race, violence, family, grief, love and friends with informal
beauty that’s been embraced by multiple generations. At 74, she recommends old
age: “it’s fun.” Giovanni is a university distinguished professor at
Virginia Tech. She has written and edited numerous books of poetry and works
for children.
Giovanni was born in Knoxville, Tenn., and grew up in
Lincoln Heights, an all-black suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. She graduated with
honors from Fisk University in 1968, after which she attended the University of
Pennsylvania and Columbia University. She published her first book of poetry, “Black Feeling Black Talk,” in 1968, and
within the next year published a second book, thus launching her career as a
writer. Her latest book is “Bicycles: Love Poems” (William Morrow). She has 25 honorary degrees,
seven NAACP Image Awards and has been nominated for a Grammy, been a finalist
for the National Book Award and authored three New York Times and Los
Angeles Times best sellers.
What:
Poet Nikki Giovanni
A Bastian Foundation Lecture Series Presented by Westminster
College in partnership with SLCC
Where:
SLCC Grand Theatre
1575 South State
Salt Lake City, Utah
When:
January 18, 2018
7–8 p.m.
Tickets:
Free, reserve seats online at grandtheatrecompany.com.