By: Samantha Hammond “KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE” Nikki Giovanni
Dec 14, 2015
∞ Born 1943, in Knoxville, Tennessee
∞ Grew up in Lincoln Heights, Ohio
∞ Spent a major part of her happy childhood with her grandparents
∞ Bachelors Degree in History at Fisk University, 1967
BASIC FACTS
∞ While attending Fisk, Giovanni was greatly influenced by a novelist who taught a Creative Writing workshop, John
Oliver Killens.
∞ Racial views of her classmates
INFLUENCES
∞ Most of her early poetry included her anger towards how black Americans were treated
∞ She supported open violence, due to how impatient she was for change
In 1969 Giovanni:∞ Took a teaching job at Rutgers University
∞ Gave birth to her son Thomas∞ Never married
∞ 1970s her work became less angry and more domestic
MORE…
∞ Black Judgment & Black feeling, Black talk
∞ 1971 she experimented with sound recording and released the album Truth is on its way
∞ 1978 - Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day
∞ 1983 - Those Who Ride the Night Winds
PUBLISHED BOOKS/ALBUMS
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE
“I always like summerBestyou can eat fresh cornFrom daddy's gardenAnd okraAnd greensAnd cabbageAnd lots ofBarbequeAnd buttermilkAnd homemade ice-creamAt the church picnicAnd listen toGospel musicOutsideAt the churchHomecomingAnd go to the mountains withYour grandmotherAnd go barefootedAnd be warmAll the timeNot only when you go to bedAnd sleep”
One theme for “Knoxville, Tennessee” is simple life before the race riots, this can be determined by how she incorporated several simple life activities/items:
∞ Food
∞ Activities
∞ Family members
In other poetry by Giovanni, its typically about her anger towards the racial views on Black Americans.
THEME
∞ Symbols
In almost every line she uses symbols, such as:
“and you can eat fresh corn” (line 3)
“And homemade ice-cream” (line 11)
“Barbeque” (line 9)
“And go barefooted” (line 20)
POETIC DEVICES 1
∞ Imagery
Giovanni uses imagery to set the scene to the reader, she uses this multiple times:
‘I always like summer’ (line 1) ‘At the church’ (line 16)
‘And you can eat fresh corn
And okra
And greens
And cabbage” (line “At the church picnic” (line
POETIC DEVICE 2
∞ Tone, Mood
Giovanni uses tone and mood multiple times within her writing
“Gospel music” (line 14)
“Homecoming” (line 17)
“And be warm” (line 21)
POETIC DEVICE 3