Nikki Giovanni on James Baldwin's Anger

Notes from America with Kai Wright

As a young woman, poet and writer Nikki Giovanni could see that no one was interested in a Black girl writing what was seen as militant and revolutionary poetry. So she formed a company and published it herself. Her second book was launched at the famous New York jazz venue Birdland as she was making a name for herself. When she was 28, she flew to London to sit with James Baldwin and record a conversation for the PBS television series, “Soul.” Baldwin was in his late-40s and an established figure in literature.

As event television, it was electric. And clips from that 1971 program continue to be shared. For many young people, that interview is how they first encounter Baldwin, and Giovanni. She's now 81 years old, and has had a garlanded career, including a Grammy nomination, bestselling books and work as a distinguished professor of English at Virginia Tech. Giovanni tells host Razia Iqbal why Baldwin’s prose is a beautiful container for the fiery rage found in his messages.

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Notes from America airs live on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts.