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Nikki Giovanni: Chasing Utopia

KPFA Radio presents:

An Evening with NIKKI GIOVANNI
"Chasing Utopia"
Hosted by Blanche Richardson

Thursday, November 7, 7:30 pm
First Congregational Church
2501 Harrison Street at 27th Street Oakland
$12 advance tickets: brownpapertickets.com :: 800-838-3006 or Pegasus Books (3 locations), Marcus Books, Mrs. Dalloway's, Moe's, Walden Pond, DIESEL a Bookstore, and Modern Times ($15 door)
KPFA benefit Information: www.kpfa.org/events

Nikki Giovanni is a world-renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator. One of the most popular, widely read American poets, she prides herself on being "A Black American, a daughter, a mother, a professor of English." For several decades she has been an eloquent and outspoken voice in the struggle for civil rights and equality. She is one of Oprah Winfrey's twenty-five "Living Legends."

Her first book, Black Feeling, Black Talk, was published in 1968. Since then many books by Nikki Giovanni have received awards and honors. Her autobiography, Gemini, was a finalist for the National Book Award. Her Love Poems, Blues: For all the Changes, Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea, Acolytes, and Hip Hop Speaks to Children (A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat) were all honored with NAACP Image Awards. Her children's book, Rosa, became a Caldecott Honors Book, and was on the New York Times Bestseller list. Her Bicycles: Love Poems reached #1 on Amazon.com for Poetry.

Her spoken word recordings have also been highly honored. Truth Is On Its Way received the Best Spoken Word Album Award from the National Association of Radio and Television Announcers, while her Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection was one of five finalists for a Grammy. Nikki's fresh new collection of poems, Chasing Utopia, maintains her prominence in American poetry and as a unique voice of the Black community.

Blanche Richardson - the witty, irrepressible manager of Marcus Books in Oakland has been friends with Nikki Giovanni for decades.