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Yolanda Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni - June 7, 1943 -
ØØYolanda Cornelia “Nikki” Giovanni was born in Knoxville, Tennessee,
and raised in Ohio. In 1960, she entered Fisk University, where she worked with the school’s Writer’s Workshop and edited the literary magazine. After receiving her bachelor of arts degree,
she organized the Black Arts Festival in Cincinnati and then entered graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania.
Fast Facts:
- Several magazines have named Giovanni Woman of the Year, including Essence, Mademoiselle, and Ladies Home Journal.
- She is currently Professor of English and Gloria D. Smith Professor of Black Studies
at Virginia Tech..
- Her honors include the NAACP Image Award for Literature in 1998, and the Langston
Hughes award for Distinguished Contributions to Arts and Letters in 1996.
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Tavis Smiley - September 13, 1966 -
ØTavis Smiley was born in Gulfport, Mississippi, the son of Joyce Marie Roberts, a single mother, on
September 13, 1964. His mother married Emory Smiley when Tavis was a young boy. Smiley graduated from Indiana University
in 1986 and then became an aide to Tom Bradley, the first African-American mayor of Los Angeles. In 1991 Smiley began doing regular commentary for a local radio station, which led
to regular appearances with national radio host Tom Joyner.
Fast Facts:
- The mission of his nonprofit organization – Tavis Smiley
Foundation – is to enlighten, encourage and empower Black youth.
- Tavis Smiley is the youngest African American to ever have a professional school and center
named after him, on a college or university campus.
- With his late night television talk show, Tavis Smiley on PBS, and his radio show The Tavis
Smiley Show from NPR, Smiley was the first American ever to simultaneously host signature
talk shows.
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