When and Where: Sept. 30, 2010
9:30 a.m. - Poetry Reading at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
As the author of more than 30 books for both adults and children, Giovanni will read poetry to an audience of Detroit Public Schools children at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Plans for the morning event include a Reading Corps presentation by Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb, who will introduce Giovanni.
11:00 - 11:30 a.m. - A media availability with Nikki Giovanni will immediately follow her formal presentation. The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is located at 315 East Warren Avenue at Brush Street, Detroit, Mich., 48201. For the general media, parking instructions are as follows:
• Free street parking is available on Brush St., on the east side of the museum.
• Metered parking is available directly in front of the museum on Warren Avenue, and behind the museum on Farnsworth Avenue.
• Guarded parking is available at the Cultural Center parking lot behind the museum; enter from John R Street, a one-way street heading south, just before Farnsworth Avenue.
5:30 p.m. - Lecture at the Wayne State University Community Arts Auditorium
"An Evening With Nikki: Black Feelings, Black Talk: Reflections After 42 Years" is free and open to the public, although reservations are required. Published in 1968, Black Feelings, Black Talk was Giovanni's first book. Her provocative compilation of political and personal poetry gave insight into the African American consciousness during the height of the civil rights movement and inspired an entire generation of African American thinkers and believers. Signed copies of Giovanni's latest work, a children's picture book called Rosa, will be also available at the Law School. Rosa, which reached number three on the New York Times best seller list, pays tribute to civil rights legend and native Detroiter Rosa Parks.
Wayne State's Law School Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium is located at 471 West Palmer, Detroit, Mich., 48201. Parking is available in front of the Law School for media and in Structure #1 for the public.
More Info: Through the KCP Initiative, funded by the state of Michigan, Wayne State awards doctoral fellowships to students being trained as future faculty in higher education and brings visiting scholars like Giovanni to campus to serve as role models for students of all ages and backgrounds. Since 1987, Wayne State University has emerged as a choice location for KCP Fellows to earn their doctoral degrees, and has awarded fellowships to more than 150 students through the KCP Fellowship pipeline. Currently, 39 KCP doctoral students are pursuing their degrees at Wayne State. For more information, visit http://www.gradschool.wayne.edu/funding/kcp/kcp.asp.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITY: Interview opportunities with Nikki Giovanni are available by phone prior to her arrival in Detroit on Sept. 30, 2010, as well as during her visit by appointment only. Requests must be arranged in advance by contacting Francine Wunder or Tom Reynolds at (313) 577-2150.
Wayne State University is a premier urban research university offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.