Mothers

"Nikki Rosa” by Nikki Giovanni (1968, 1970)

“Nikki Rosa” is of Giovanni’s most famous and anthologized poems. The piece celebrates Black family life in all its complexity. Like “Mothers,” “Nikki Rosa” relies on the speaker’s memory as a vehicle for the poem.

“Dreams” by Nikki Giovanni (1968, 1970)

In “Dreams,” Giovanni celebrates authentic voice and aspiration. The speaker’s younger self dreamed of becoming a Black singer; this dream changed as the speaker matured and aged.

“senses of heritage” by Ntozake Shange (1972)

“senses of heritage,” written by a contemporary of Giovanni’s and fellow proponent of the Black Arts Movement, experiments with form and language to discuss legacy, aspiration, and the moon. Shange, like Giovanni, eschews capitalization and punctuation in this poem.

“Lineage” by Margaret Walker (1989)

Giovanni’s friend and colleague Margaret Walker—known for her lifelong commitment to Black culture and Black struggle—wrote “Lineage.”  In this poem, Walker recalls the legacy of strength of her grandmother and elders.

Furious Flower Archive. (n.d.). Furious Flower Archive.

The Furious Flower Poetry Center and its website is a resource for events, programs, and the online literary journal, The Fight & The Fiddle.