Organizers of the MLK Day celebration. readers, students, and fans are paying their respects to Giovanni. In Lexington, many had hoped to hear the iconic author deliver the keynote address for the event next month.
In a statement, a UK spokesman wrote the school is "deeply saddened" to hear of her passing, describing Giovanni as a "remarkable poet, author and activist whose life and work inspired so many."
In an interview with NPR this year, the writer behind poetry collections such as "Black Judgment" and "Black Feeling Black Talk" was asked if she finds herself thinking about her legacy. In characteristically confident fashion, she answered, "No."
"Because it gets you caught up in your life," she explained. "And that's not what your life is. Not about your life. You life is about your duty, and so no, I don't think about it."
But Giovanni left her readers with lots to ponder — from her honest takes on race to razor-sharp comebacks to student questions.
Born Yolanda Cornelia Giovanni, Jr. in Knoxville, TN, she grew up in Cincinnati, OH, and went on to become an influential figure in the Black Arts movement.
In a speech at Emory University in 2020, she ended a reading with these words.
"This is a banner we fly for respect, dignity, the assumption of integrity, for a future generation to rally around. This is about us celebrating ourselves and a well-deserved honor it is," she finished. "This is a rocket. Let's ride."
UK and MLK day organizers say they will share updates in the coming weeks about the city's 2025 MLK Day program as Lexington and admirers around the world mourn her loss.