Who was Nikki Giovanni married to? All about her partner and son as legendary poet, Virginia Tech professor dies at 81

The Virginia Tech professor and legendary poet, Nikki Giovanni tragically passed away at the age of 81 on December 9, 2024. While the family has not yet revealed the reason behind Nikki Giovanni’s death, NPR reported that the poet passed away following her third cancer diagnosis.

Furthermore, Nikki’s longtime friend, and poet, Kwame Alexander, confirmed the news of her passing in a statement and said:

“The poet Adrienne Rich wrote ‘…somehow, each of us will help the other live, and somewhere, each of us must help the other die.’ Renée Watson and I sat by her side, with Ginney, along with family and close friends, chatting about how much we learned about living from her, about how lucky we have been to have Nikki guide us, teach us, and love us."

Kwayme continued:

"We will forever be grateful for the unconditional time she gave to us, to all her literary children across the writerly world.”

Nikki Giovanni was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and published her first poetry collection in 1968, called, Black Feeling, Black Talk. Apart from being a celebrated poet, Nikki was also a well-known Black Arts movement Icon. During her career, she also served in the English Department at Virginia Tech as a professor.

Nikki was married to Virginia Fowler, an English professor, who was her biographer before they tied the knot. The poet is now survived by her son, Thomas Giovanni, granddaughter, Kai Giovanni, her two cousins, Haynes Ford and Allison Ragan, her nephew, Christopher Black and her wife, Virginia.

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Nikki Giovanni has already battled cancer twice: More details revealed as the poet passes away after third-time diagnosis

Nikki Giovanni, the celebrated poet, and activist, had faced cancer head-on twice in her lifetime. She was diagnosed with lung cancer for the first time in the 1990s. At the time, she underwent numerous surgeries and ultimately defeated the disease. She even talked about her struggles in her 1999 book, Blues: For All the Changes: New Poems.

A few weeks before her death, she performed with saxophonist Javon Jackson at the Louis Armstrong House in New York City, marking her last public performance. Her poetry collections, including My House, Love Poems, Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day, The Women and The Men, Those Who Ride The Night Winds, Bicycles: Love Poems, A Good Cry: What We Learn From Tears and Laughter, and Make Me Rain, are widely loved by audiences.

Apart from this, Nikki has already authored several children’s books, including Spin a Soft Black Song, Vacation Time: Poem for Children, The Girls in the Circle, Rosa, Poetry Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat, I Am Loved and A Library.

Furthermore, Giovanni gave birth to her only son, Thomas Watson Giovanni in 1969. However, Local 10 reported that Nikki never married the father, as she stated to Ebony Magazine that she “could never afford to get married.” She ultimately settled with her longtime partner, and fellow faculty member at Virginia Tech, Virginia Fowler.

As per the University’s official website, Virginia, a Professor of English at the University also teaches courses in African-American literature and passionately talks about women writers. Furthermore, she was also actively involved in the documentary made on Nikki Giovanni, called Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project, which has already premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.

As Nikki Giovanni passed away, social media is flooded with tributes from her friends, family, colleagues and followers. However, at the moment, the family has yet to disclose more details about her funeral and memorial services.