(ThyBlackMan.com) The 66 year old Nikki Giovanni; http://nikki-giovanni.com/ is honest and solid in her opinions about Black people (Negros) as she announces, education (every child needs a computer), gays, politics, technology (Negros must learn computers especially inner city youth), women’s rights, men’s responsibilities to their families, sex (teach kids to be responsible about sex), slavery, Hip Hop, Dr. King, .(greatly influenced by his father), Malcolm X (a great speaker), President Obama (awesome role model), Whitney Houston (no one really helped her) and other subjects.
She runs a gambit of ideologies and her beliefs that are both strict and based
on the actions and choices a person makes. Ms. Nikki Giovanni does not hold back how she feels or what she thinks about past and current events.
She was more than happy to share with the several hundred in attendance at Milne Auditorium on the campus of Edward Waters College; the oldest HBCU in Florida; the responsibility of students today to prepare to lead as adults in a technological world. EWC students were told that, “You go to college for a career, not a job.
Education is more important now than ever before.” Commenting about the value of HBCU’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the 21st century, Ms. Nikki Giovanni stated that, “anyone that questions the validity of HBCU’s is stupid, they provide a quality and realistic education. Many White 
schools would not admit Negros because of their backgrounds, financials and family responsibilities.” Mentioning White schools won’t take a chance on most Negros, but HBCU’s have been doing that for years and successfully teaching. Negros cannot afford to be unprepared to meet the challenges of
educating their children and providing financial security in a world where a White mentality has ruled with devastating results for people of color.
Ms. Nikki Giovanni speaks that Negros should not expect anyone to give them anything, they must work for achievement and many children are being taught the wrong lessons of life by giving children shoes and clothes worth hundreds of dollars, but cannot read on grade level or perform simple math functions. All children have a right to a quality education, but too many parents are not taking responsibility for providing for their child’s education
when education starts home first.
The dialogue was animated, passionate, humorous, serious, and at times controversial in Ms. Giovanni’s remarks. According to Ms. Nikki Giovanni she has a right to express her viewpoints about many subjects living to the age of 66 years young. As she stated youth need to listen to seniors (parents and grandparents) in their lives because seniors have learned from their mistakes and know more about life than youth. That youth should not feel they are owed anything because they have not earned anything yet or sacrificed for anything like those that participated in the civil rights movement of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s or World Wars.
This is my first opportunity to listen and learn from the iconic poet, writer, educator (Virginia Tech Professor), civil rights participant, mentor and role model. There were several references that Ms. Nikki Giovanni made about the struggles of Negros in America and how Negros helped to build this country through slavery, how Negros were treated as less than second class citizens in what is still the greatest free country in the world.
Ms. Giovanni’s focus on education is empowering and honest in the discussion that if Negros do not take responsibility for education and promote learning in their homes they will continue to be economically left behind in poverty and lack political power.
Her observations that Negros could have more political power like Jews or other cultures if they worked together, and not allow their minds to be manipulated by the entertainment industry and false advertising.
Promoting education instead of the entertainment industry, Ms. Nikki Giovanni, stated everyone cannot be an entertainer as a rapper, football player, basketball player, dancer or other artist in entertainment. On the opposite end more Negro youth can be doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, scientist and other professionals if parents would change their mentalities and teach their children about how these careers benefit them more.
Ms. Giovanni discussed her passion for youth and education by sharing with the students of EWC that they are just as talented and gifted as any other student even Ivy League students.
DCPS students from several middle and high schools that attended were told to be responsible for their lives and the choices that they make. To find a role model of someone that is extraordinary, successful and supportive. Reminding youth that extraordinary people accept their responsibilities in life and strive to improve themselves and their communities. Television
has created a bad image of successful people especially Negros, once they are successful they should come back to their neighbourhoods and help others not leave and never return.
She stated, “Don’t be selfish, there should not be a mentality of I’m looking out for number one, but a mentality of working together.” Other cultures support each other, that is why their cultures are successful, more Negros need to do the same to lift up Negro youth from poverty, lack of education and help establish career goals. The mention of more responsible
Negro men who are role models is needed and fathers who help create a child should stay in that child’s life and help raise them, that is why so many youth are in our prison systems and live in poverty, too many men make children, but do not want to support them.
As Ms. Nikki Giovanni coming close to her conclusion read several of her poems that the audience applauded and cheered. Reading; ” Ego Tripping” http://nikki-giovanni.com/page_51.shtml this was a treat to the youth that have aspirations of writing and poetic abilities. At the conclusion
of her discussion Ms. Giovanni reminded the women present of their roles as mothers, nurturers, educators, role models and the strength that sustained them through slavery, wars, civil rights and other events throughout history.
Firmly stating with strong conviction that, ”if Black women did not exists they would have to be invented.”
The applause and cheers echoed for several minutes especially from young women and seniors some even cried to her prophetic statements about women of color and their continued strength to raise families and take care of a home without a husband.. As a child raised by a single mother, I reflected on the strength of my mother in raising myself and two younger siblings with the help of my grandmother. A father not being a part of our life, agreeing with Ms. Nikki Giovanni’s comments and inwardly thanking my mother for her strength, her prayers and perseverance through good times and hard times.
Photos of event
http://photobucket.com/nikkigewc
Video interviews
http://youtu.be/SobIOFAZMkc
Staff Writer; William D. Jackson
Find out more about this talented writer over at; OCS For Education.
Also check out; http://www.About.Me/WilliamDJackson
