The Death of Nikki Giovanni
thug life
When I was in college, I drove all over New England to see Nikki Giovanni speak. This was a significant feat for a girl with no car and no money who had to make up ridiculous excuses to borrow cars from the school fleet. I once convinced a professor that my friends and I wanted to go to a Mos Def concert for “African American studies”. He allowed it, although probably more out of humor than anything else.
I loved Nikki. I loved her poetry, I loved her philosophies on life (have a glass of champagne every night before bed), I loved everything she stood for. I loved that she got a “thug life” tattoo after Tupac died because it was her way of sending a message to his mother and, she told the audience once in Hartford, because she never wanted to get so old that she started to dismiss youth culture. I looked everywhere for my dog eared copy of The Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni but the problem with moving is that it is impossible to find the thing you want it when you want it. So below are two of her best poems, which is an impossible thing to say because most of her poems were her best poems and she started writing poems in the 60s so even at three poems a year that is an insane amount of great poetry, but anyways here are two very good ones for you to enjoy.
Legacies
her grandmother called her from the playground
“yes, ma’am”
“i want chu to learn how to make rolls” said the old
woman proudly
but the little girl didn’t want
to learn how because she knew
even if she couldn’t say it that
that would mean when the old one died she would be less
dependent on her spirit so
she said
“i don’t want to know how to make no rolls”
with her lips poked out
and the old woman wiped her hands on
her apron saying “lord
these children”
and neither of them ever
said what they meant
and i guess nobody ever does
Choices
If i can't do
what i want to do
then my job is to not
do what i don't want
to do
It's not the same thing
but it's the best i can
do
If i can't have
what i want... then
my job is to want
what i've got
and be satisfied
that at least there
is something more to want
Since i can't go
where i need
to go... then i must... go
where the signs point
though always understanding
parallel movement
isn't lateral
When i can't express
what i really feel
i practice feeling
what i can express
and none of it is equal
I know
but that's why mankind
alone among the animals
learns to cry
Choose the Bear- This week’s episode is with Meghan Keane, creator of one of my favorite podcasts, NPR’s Life Kit, whose new book, Party of One, should be on your ChristmasHanukkahKwanzaaFestivus list for every single person you know. Find it wherever you find your podcasts. And don’t forget to leave a review!
What to do with yourself
Watch
Harry Pottery: Wizards of Baking (HBO)- I was going to skip this because even though I love the Weasley Twins, I thought it was just another baking show. I WAS SO WRONG. This is the coolest most Harry Potterest baking show of all time and I am OBSESSSED.
Great British Baking Competition (Netflix)- I refuse to watch Great Brit Baking until every episode is out which means I am always late but it’s out and complete and just as lovely as ever. And yes, this is two baking shows in a row but it’s the holidays so go crazy.
I’m a Virgo (Prime)- I’ll be honest, I really did not like this show. BUT, that’s just because Boots Riley can be a little too weird for me. If you like Rileyesque weirdness (Sorry To Bother You was so good) then this might be the show for you. Give it a chance!
Listen
Your Spotify Wrapped AI Podcast- If you have Spotify then you know it’s Wrapped season (my number one artist of the year was Taylor Swift, obviously, followed by the casts of Hadestown and Sweeney Todd and, of course, Florence. I’m basic and I love it here). The thing that is different this year is that Spotify used Google’s Notebook LM to make an AI podcast about your listening year and it is so freaky. These two AI bots have a totally casual conversation about you!!! I recently used Notebook LM to make a podcast for an exam I have coming up next month and it is never not weird but also extremely helpful. How every kid these days isn’t a Rhodes Scholar I will never know.
This Book Made Me Podcast- I was recently interviewed for this podcast and it is such a unique and fun idea that I had to recommend it. Kim, who I want to be my new best friend, interviews people about- you’ll never guess- the book that made them. She’s lovely and brilliant and it’s a podcast about books so you can’t go wrong. I recommend starting with my good friend Russ Finkelstein’s episode and then you, like me, can read The Hotel New Hampshire to get inside his head. And I mean that in the creepiest, most Being John Malkovich way possible.