Rest in peace to the incredible poet and Black arts movement icon, Nikki Giovanni. She was 81 years old. Her book, “A Poetic Equation: Conversations Between Nikki Giovanni and Margaret Walker” was published in 1974 by the Howard University Press, the first black university press in the U.S. In 1997, Nikki Giovanni graced Howard University's campus to recite numerous poems and essays during the annual poetry show. She would later return in 2007 to be given her flowers during the 13th Annual Heart's Day, an event sponsored by the English department. She was a HBCU grad by way of Fisk University, the author of many books, an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a prominent voice on civil rights and social issues, and an English professor at Virginia Tech. She was working on her last poetry book, “THE LAST BOOK,” which is set to release next year. #nikkigiovanni #howarduniversity