We Will Prevail

Words from Nikki for now, from years ago

Her writing, spirit, and presence was always relevant. It was progressive and challenging, healing and honest.

I had unique exposure to Nikki Giovanni because of my time at Virginia Tech. She taught at the school and resided at times in Blacksburg, VA. Her speech after the 2007 massacre at VT was legendarily uniting, and is still part of the fabric of the tight-knit university community.

Her words of strength and courage shine through her poetry, spoken word albums, and interviews. Today, I am thankful for the reminder to listen to them. I am grateful for her unmoving presence in this world, and I hope that I learn to live as courageously as she urged us to.

These two quotes in particular help me now.

Winning is hard. And I’m just being serious. I’m not saying give up, because I’m not a give-up. Something’s got to change. Sure, people say, what’s the use in trying. But of course, there’s a point in trying. At some point, those of us who are about what is called “truth” have to be as willing to fight for our reality as those who are fighting against us.

-Nikki Giovanni in an interview with Claudia Tate in 1983

We are strong and brave and innocent and unafraid. We are better than we think, and not quite what we want to be. We are alive to the imagination and the possibility we will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears, through all this sadness…We will prevail, we will prevail, we will prevail.

-Nikki Giovanni in her 2007 convocation speech after VT shooting

As luck would have it, I wandered into a local liquor store when I had just finished my dissertation. When I asked for a good champagne recommendation, the store clerk took me right to Saint-Hilaire Brut, touting it as Nikki Giovanni’s favorite. Now might be a good time to grab another bottle.

Let’s raise a toast to the great Nikki with her favorite champagne. May her words comfort your sadness, lift you out of numbness, and move you forward towards an unwavering fight for justice. I wish you inspiration in her honor.

With love and hope for the future,

Stephanie

Watch Nikki’s full VT convocation speech here. I encourage you to watch until the end.

Please comment with your thoughts and share what gives you inspiration these days.