Hello, Pearl Team,
During the month of February, we celebrate and honor Black history. During this month especially, I want to bring awareness to 3 incredibly inspirational women who have inspired me in so many ways both professionally and personally.
Yolande Cornelia “Nikki” Giovanni Jr.
American poet
Born in Knoxville, KY but raised in Ohio, Nikki is a world-famous poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator. Nikki is one of the foremost authors of the Black Arts Movement, her notable books of poetry are “Black Judgment” and “Those Who Ride the Night Winds”, which were influenced by her participation in the Black Arts Movement and Black Power movement in the 1960s. She gained her initial fame in the late 1960s as one of the foremost authors of the Black Arts Movement and Black Power movement in the 1960s. She gained her initial fame in the late 1960s as one of the foremost authors of the Black Arts Movement and in the 1970s she co-founded a publishing company to provide an outlet for other African American women writers. She holds 27 honorary degrees from various colleges and universities and has been given the key to over 2 dozen cities. She did not just write about racial equality; she was also a staunch advocate for gender equality. She takes great pride in being a “Black American, a daughter, mother, and a Professor of English”. Nikki has written more than two dozen books, including volumes of poetry, illustrated children’s books, and three collections of essays. Since 1987, she has taught writing and literature at Virginia Tech, where she is a University Distinguished Professor. She has received the NAACP Image Award several times, received 20 honorary doctorates and various other awards, including the Rosa Parks and the Langston Hughes Award for Distinguished Contributions to Arts and Letters.
“A lot of people resist transition and therefore never allow themselves to enjoy who they are. Embrace the change, no matter what it is; once you do, you can learn about the new world you’re in and take advantage of it” – Nikki Giovanni
Chloe Anthony Wofford “Toni” Morrison
American novelist
Toni was born in Ohio. She is one of the most celebrated authors in the world. In addition to writing plays, and children’s books, her novels have earned her countless prestigious awards including the Pulitzer Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. As the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, Morrison’s work has inspired a generation of writers. After graduating from Cornell University with her Master of Arts in English, she obtained an editing position at Random house Publishing. She did not publish her first novel called The Bluest Eye until was she was 39 years old. Three years later, she published her second novel called Sula, that was nominated for the National Book Award. By her third novel in 1977, Toni became a household name. Song of Solomon earned critical acclaim as well as the National Book Critics Circle Award. In 1987, she released her novel called Beloved, based on the true story of an African American enslaved woman. This book was a Bestseller for 25 weeks and won countless awards including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. In 1993, she became the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Three years later, she was also chosen by the National Endowment for the Humanities to give the Jefferson Lecture and was honored with the National Book Foundation’s Medal of Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. In 2000, she was named a Living Legend by the Library of Congress. She also wrote children’s books with her son until his death at 45 years old. Her work continued to influence writers and artists through her focus on African American life and her commentary on race relations. In 1998, Oprah Winfrey co-produced and starred in the film adaptation of her book, “Beloved”.
“The function of freedom is too free someone else.” ― Toni Morrison
Marguerite Ann Johnson “Maya Angelou”
American memoirist
Maya was a world renown American author as well as a scholar, dancer, poet, and civil rights activist. Born in Missouri and then raised by her grandparents in Arkansas due abuse at home. Maya developed a love for writing, poetry and works by Shakespeare and Poe at a very young age. Many do not know in addition to that, Maya was also known for her talents as a singer and dancer, particularly in the calypso and cabaret styles. In the 1950s, she performed professionally in the US, Europe, and northern Africa, and sold albums of her recordings. In 1969, Maya published “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”, an autobiography of her early life. Her tale of personal strength amid childhood trauma and racism resonated with readers and was nominated for the National Book Award. She went on to publish 6 more autobiographies. She wrote numerous poetry volumes, such as the Pulitzer Prize-nominated “Just Give me a Drink of Water ‘fore I Die”, as well as several essay collections. She also recorded spoken albums of her poetry, including “On the Pulse of the Morning,” for which she won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album. The poem was originally written for and delivered at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993. She also won a Grammy in 1995, and again in 2002, for her spoken albums of poetry. She was recognized by many organizations both nationally and internationally for her contributions to literature. President Clinton awarded her the National Medal of Arts in 2000. In 2012, she was a member of the inaugural class inducted into the Wake Forest University Writers Hall of Fame. The following year, she received the National Book Foundation’s Literarian Award for outstanding service to the American literary community. Angelou also gave many commencement speeches and was awarded more than 30 honorary degrees in her lifetime. To honor her legacy, the US Postal Service issued a stamp with her likeness on it in 2015 and in 2011, and President Barack Obama awarded Maya with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou