BLACK POWER! This exclamation was prominent during the Black Arts Movement, a period in the mid-1900s when black art, literature, and music were greatly growing. Many influential writers arose from the Black Arts Movement. One of the most critically acclaimed, impactful, and powerful writers who began their reign during the Black Arts Movement was Nikki Giovanni. Giovanni received much criticism during this period for his controversial literature, but Presentation continues to create well-regarded and widely recognized literary works throughout the literary canon. Nikki Giovanni portrays the major events of her life and radically changed the society around her in controversial literature that captures much criticism, while attracting readers of various genders, races, and economic statuses. Yolanda Cornelia Giovanni, more famous as Nikki Giovanni, was born on June 7, 1943 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Giovanni was the youngest of two daughters and while growing up in Cincinnati she often returned to Knoxville to visit her close-knit family. In her early years Nikki Giovanni was thrust into black culture and "gained an intense appreciation for her African-American heritage from her outspoken grandmother" (). Once in a personal interview Giovanni declared that his greatest inspiration was "his grandmother and those wonderful women of her time" (). Nikki Giovanni idolized her grandmother for her strength, influence and outspokenness. Her grandmother provided Giovanni with an "intense appreciation for her African-American heritage" that allowed her to discover her poetic voice and writing potential. Throughout her school years, Nikki Giovanni thrived and with the guidance of many teachers "early earned... ... middle of paper ... twenty honorary degrees from colleges and universities across the country." (bit). Nikki Giovanni even has a species of bat named after her, Micronycteris giovanniae, that she taught at Virginia Tech during the tragic 2007 shooting. It is all too clear that Nikki Giovanni has lived a rich life, and readers appreciate the experiences she uses as inspiration for his life. poetry. The Black Arts Movement was a crucial time in Nikki Giovanni's life and provided her with the opportunity to be supported in her political, racial, and spiritual views. Nikki Giovanni's creative and astute poetry attests to her evolving awareness and experiences. From child to young woman, from naive college freshman to seasoned civil rights activist, even from daughter to mother Nikki Giovanni has captivated readers with her every changing world and they are completely fascinated by it..