For years, author and poet Nikki Giovanni couldn’t cry. Poet Nikki Giovanni was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on June 7, 1943. The National Public Radio program, All Things Considered, commissioned Giovanni to write a poem for the 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Nikki Giovanni, byname of Yolande Cornelia Giovanni, Jr., (born June 7, 1943, Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.), American poet whose writings ranged from calls for black power to poems for children and intimate personal statements. Even as a child watching her father punch her mother, she suppressed her tears.

Although she grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, she and her sister returned to Knoxville each summer to visit their grandparents. Who was the father of Nikki Giovanni's son?

Unanswered Questions. Since 1987, she has been on the faculty at Virginia Tech, where she is a University Distinguished Professor. Nikki graduated with honors in history from her grandfather's alma mater, Fisk University. Since 1987, she has been on the faculty at Virginia Tech, where she is a University Distinguished Professor. Poet Nikki Giovanni was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on June 7, 1943. How many inches will ten turns advance it . Nikki graduated with honors in history from her grandfather's alma mater, Fisk University. Although she grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, she and her sister returned to Knoxville each summer to visit their grandparents. Eight turns of a screw advance it 4 inches.