The Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities at Case Western Reserve University invites the campus community to hear poet Nikki Giovanni read from her new book, Chasing Utopia.
The afternoon of poetry and discussion will be Monday, Oct. 28, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in Allen Memorial Medical Library’s Ford Auditorium. The reading and discussion will be followed by a book sale and signing.
Giovanni is a world-renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist and educator. One of the most widely read American poets, her books and recordings have received numerous honors and awards. Her autobiography, Gemini, was a finalist for the National Book Award; Love Poems, Blues: For All the Changes, Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea, Acolytes and Hip Hop Speaks to Children all were honored with NAACP Image Awards. Blues: For All the Changes reached No. 4 on the Los Angeles Times best-seller list, a rare achievement for a book of poems. Most recently, her children’s picture book Rosa, about the civil rights legend Rosa Parks, became a Caldecott Honors Book, and Bryan Collier, the illustrator, was given the Coretta Scott King award for best illustration.
The recipient of 25 honorary degrees, she has been named “Woman of the Year” by Mademoiselle Magazine, The Ladies Home Journal and Ebony Magazine. She was the first recipient of the Rosa L. Parks Woman of Courage Award, and she has also been awarded the Langston Hughes Medal for poetry. The author of 30 books for both adults and children, Giovanni is a University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech University.
The event is free and open to the public, but registration is recommended. For information, contact Maggie Kaminski at 216.368.2242 or email bakernord@case.edu.