MEDIA ALERT
“The Wright Conversations” with Nikki Giovanni
WHO:
The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Presents the March installment of its lecture series, The Wright Conversations, “A conversation with Nikki Giovanni.” "Nikki" Giovanni is an American poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator.
WHAT:
Nikki Giovanni is one of this country’s most widely read poets and one of America’s most renowned poets world-wide. Giovanni gained initial fame in the late 1960s as one of the foremost authors of the Black Arts Movement. Influenced by the Civil Rights Movement and Black Power Movement of the period, her early work provides a strong, militant African American perspective, leading one writer to dub her the "Poet of the Black Revolution". During the 1970s, she began writing children's literature, and co-founded a publishing company, NikTom Ltd, to provide an outlet for other African American women writers.
Over subsequent decades, her works discussed social issues, human relationships, and hip hop. Her poem, “Knoxville, Tennessee,” is arguably the single literary work most often associated with that city. Giovanni has received numerous awards during her career, including seven Image Awards from the N.A.A.C.P., more than two-dozen honorary degrees, the first Rosa Parks Woman of Courage Award, the Langston Hughes Medal for Poetry, and the Carl Sandburg Literary Award; additionally, Oprah Winfrey recognized her in 2005 as one of twenty-five “Living Legends.” She continues to teach, write, and publish books, the most recent of which is A Good Cry. Her newest collection, Make Me Rain, was released in October of 2020.
WHERE:
The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History 315 Warren Ave., Detroit MI 48201 313-494-5800
WHEN:
Wednesday, March 13th, 2024, @5p
WHY:
The Wright Conversations is a curated collection of events featuring dynamic speakers chosen by the President of the Charles H. Wright Museum, Neil A. Barclay. Dedicated to bringing insightful and robust conversation to the Detroit community, the series addresses critical topics in the areas of civic engagement, art, history, and culture.
*Tickets are Sold Out.
About the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History was founded in 1965 and is in the heart of Midtown Detroit’s Cultural Center. The Wright Museum’s mission is to open minds and change lives through the exploration and celebration of African American history and culture. And Still We Rise: Our Journey Through African American History and Culture — the museum’s 22,000 square foot, immersive core exhibit — is one of the largest, single exhibitions surveying the history of African Americans. The Wright Museum houses over 35,000 artifacts and archival materials and offers more than 300 public programs and events annually.
Media Contact:
Char Yates
Director of Media Relations
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Direct: (313) 494-5839 | Main: (313) 494-5800
cyates@thewright.org