Quotessence
Home / Authors / Nikki Giovanni
Nikki Giovanni

Nikki Giovanni Quotes

Writer

Filter quotes by topic

AllPeopleThinkingIfsPoetryBlackPoemWantWritingNeedsAfrican AmericansBlacksKnowsNinaShouldWorldHumansBookLifeLovePoet

Famous Nikki Giovanni Quotes

“I think that, in reality, there is something wrong with human beings, and unless we are willing to face the fact that something is really wrong with human beings, unless we are willing to face the fact that somewhere in our imaginations we are evil, vicious people, it is not going to work.”

HumansEvilHuman BeingsCrueltyViciousness
Book:Shimmy Shimmy Shimmy Like My Sister Kate: Looking At The Harlem Renaissance Through Poems
Create image

“America may not be the best nation on earth, but it has conceived loftier ideals and dreamed higher dreams than any other nation. America is a heterogeneous nation of many different people of different races, religions, and creeds. Should this experiment go forth and prosper, we will have offered humans a new way to look at life; should it fail, we will simply go the way of all failed civilizations.”

PeopleWayShouldHumansLooksMayDifferentDreamEarthAmericaNationsRaceFailingHigherCivilizationIdealsExperimentsBeing The BestCreedsNew WaysDifferent PeoplesDifferent Races
Book:Racism 101
Create image

“Style has a profound meaning to Black Americans. If we can’t drive, we will invent walks and the world will envy the dexterity of our feet. If we can’t have ham, we will boil chitterlings; if we are given rotten peaches, we will make cobblers; if given scraps, we will make quilts; take away our drums, and we will clap our hands. We prove the human spirit will prevail. We will take what we have to make what we need. We need confidence in our knowledge of who we are.”

IfsWorldNeedsHumansHandsSpiritGivenBlackWalksFeetStyleProveProfoundEnvyWho We AreHuman SpiritRottenScrapHamPeachesQuiltsDexterityCobblers
Author:Nikki Giovanni
Create image