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ABS brings famous poet on campus
Published: Sunday, February 5, 2012
Updated: Sunday, February 5, 2012 22:02
Richard Braxton, www.anvilphoto.com
Nikki Giovanni spoke to a packed house in Hughes-Trigg theater last Friday. Giovanni was the first in a series of speakers set for Black History Month.
World-renowned poet Nikki Giovanni gave a speech in the Hughes-Trigg Theater Friday night in support of Southern Methodist University's kickoff to Black History Month. The theme this year is "Raising the Bar" in which the Association of Black
Students will have numerous programs to educate people about the history of African American culture.
In front of a full auditorium, junior SMU student A'Rielle Gatlin said, "I'm excited to embark on this month-long journey in celebration of our rich history."
Black History Month began as National Negro History Week in 1926, and 50 years later, President Ford officially recognized Black History Month. This was a way for the nation to honor the history of Black Americans.
Poet Nikki Giovanni, 68, is a university distinguished professor at Virginia Tech University. She has reached many audiences around the world through her powerful speeches and has written poetry to her late friends Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.
On Dec. 1, Nikki Giovanni walked around the campus of Virginia Tech saying, "Happy Rosa Parks Day!"
She said students would turn to her saying they didn't know it was Rosa Parks Day.
And she said, "It's not, that's just how you get it started."
Through the laughter and shouts from the packed crowd in Hughes-Trigg, Giovanni, who was barely bigger than the stand she stood behind, spoke from her heart about what Black History Month means to her. She explained her magnificent relationship with Rosa Parks and how it evolved her into a strong, independent woman.
"No one can tell me how to feel about things, I make my own decisions," Giovanni said.
This is a reminder as to how Rosa Parks was an example of the first sit-in, standing up for her rights, starting a revolution.
Giovanni brought up points about how inequality is still prevalent in our society today and stated that America needs to grow up and give black men the credit they deserve. The bad history that follows them allows the speculation that there is no exact number as to how many African-American men have been murdered from lynching, stoning etc.
While watching the winter X Games in Aspen late one night, Giovanni questioned why she wasn't watching breakdancing or double Dutch.
"Why is no one filming that? Why do they not get the same opportunities just because they cannot pay for Aspen?" Giovanni said.
Although all these scenarios still go on, Nikki Giovanni still believes that life is about being happy.
She says she is one of the happiest people she knows, and she hopes that everyone can still feel love for one another.
Multiple standing ovations were given towards the end as Giovanni answered questions from the crowd and was given a T-shirt and plaque from the Association of Black Students.
While waiting to get a picture and autograph from Giovanni, Kelley Butler, 39, said, "She is an amazingly, vibrant speaker who has the dynamic ability to be in tune with the culture of every generation in the room."
Butler, who is part of the black leadership forum from Prudential Mortgage Capital Company, got a group of her colleagues to come with her to the speech.
They all agreed that the most important aspect of Giovanni's
speech was how no one can tell her how to feel, touching so many people in the room at that moment.
Black History Month at SMU has many programs coming up and some that span throughout the entire month.
Students will have numerous programs to educate people about the history of African American culture.
In front of a full auditorium, junior SMU student A'Rielle Gatlin said, "I'm excited to embark on this month-long journey in celebration of our rich history."
Black History Month began as National Negro History Week in 1926, and 50 years later, President Ford officially recognized Black History Month. This was a way for the nation to honor the history of Black Americans.
Poet Nikki Giovanni, 68, is a university distinguished professor at Virginia Tech University. She has reached many audiences around the world through her powerful speeches and has written poetry to her late friends Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.
On Dec. 1, Nikki Giovanni walked around the campus of Virginia Tech saying, "Happy Rosa Parks Day!"
She said students would turn to her saying they didn't know it was Rosa Parks Day.
And she said, "It's not, that's just how you get it started."
Through the laughter and shouts from the packed crowd in Hughes-Trigg, Giovanni, who was barely bigger than the stand she stood behind, spoke from her heart about what Black History Month means to her. She explained her magnificent relationship with Rosa Parks and how it evolved her into a strong, independent woman.
"No one can tell me how to feel about things, I make my own decisions," Giovanni said.
This is a reminder as to how Rosa Parks was an example of the first sit-in, standing up for her rights, starting a revolution.
Giovanni brought up points about how inequality is still prevalent in our society today and stated that America needs to grow up and give black men the credit they deserve. The bad history that follows them allows the speculation that there is no exact number as to how many African-American men have been murdered from lynching, stoning etc.
While watching the winter X Games in Aspen late one night, Giovanni questioned why she wasn't watching breakdancing or double Dutch.
"Why is no one filming that? Why do they not get the same opportunities just because they cannot pay for Aspen?" Giovanni said.
Although all these scenarios still go on, Nikki Giovanni still believes that life is about being happy.
She says she is one of the happiest people she knows, and she hopes that everyone can still feel love for one another.
Multiple standing ovations were given towards the end as Giovanni answered questions from the crowd and was given a T-shirt and plaque from the Association of Black Students.
While waiting to get a picture and autograph from Giovanni, Kelley Butler, 39, said, "She is an amazingly, vibrant speaker who has the dynamic ability to be in tune with the culture of every generation in the room."
Butler, who is part of the black leadership forum from Prudential Mortgage Capital Company, got a group of her colleagues to come with her to the speech.
They all agreed that the most important aspect of Giovanni's
speech was how no one can tell her how to feel, touching so many people in the room at that moment.
Black History Month at SMU has many programs coming up and some that span throughout the entire month.
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