Giovanni captures the heart of GSU

Prolific, uncensored, and awe-inspiring are just a few words that could be used to describe Nikki Giovanni's one women showcase, "The Courage for Equality: Love, Work, Society."

Giovanni, a distinguished professor of English at Virginia Tech University appeared right at home before the packed house gathered in GSU's Performing Arts Center on November 7.

"I work for a university. It's not a lot but it's steady," said Giovanni.

Lively, relatable, and unapologetically authentic, she took the audience on a ride aboard the "Giovanni Express" and allowed all a glimpse into the world as she sees it.

With candor and undeniable wit, Giovanni shared her poetry as well as her insight on some of today's most pressing topics, including abortion, marriage equality, and student loan debt.

"I am the only person that is pro-abortion, everyone else is pro-choice. I am not. If you don't want it, I don't want you to have it," Giovanni said. "I get to make some decisions for myself and I am tired of men treating women's bodies like they own us."

Giovanni added, "If they get to vote on abortions, we should get to vote on erections."

On the topic of marriage equality, she stated that it is very important that the black community support same-sex marriage because they know what it is like for someone to say that you cannot enter into a contract with somebody else.

"If we let the slaves get married they are human beings, if we let the gays get married they're equal; get over it," Giovanni said. "Anybody crazy enough to get married ought to be able to."

Giovanni also addressed the issue of student loan debt. "It is ridiculous that we are actually charging people to be educated. We could do a zero percent loan for all college students because money doesn't have to make money, it only has to circulate," said Giovanni.

After the grief of losing her mother and sister six weeks apart, Giovanni admitted that she fell into a serious funk.

She credits exercise and falling in love with helping her to get out of it.

Giovanni told the audience that falling in love is fun. "I recommend it and whatever you do get the poem."

As a result of her falling in love, she was inspired to write one of her favorite poems, "Bicycles."

"Because falling in love is like riding a bicycle. It takes trust and balance," said Giovanni.