Nikki Giovanni

I am proud of the hip hop generation. They are good business people and, actually, good people.

The poet Melvin B. Tolson once said, 'A civilization is judged only in its decline.' That made sense to me. I would imagine the same is true for poets and tennis players.

I had a really nice childhood; I had great parents. I earned my allowance by washing dishes, and in the summer I earned my allowance by working in daddy's garden.

Favorite poems are like favorite children. We definitely have them but we never tell as the others would have their feelings hurt.

We believe 'Peter Rabbit' because Beatrix Potter believes it. You have to.

Sacred cows make very poor gladiators.

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.

We write because we believe the human spirit cannot be tamed and should not be trained.

Hip-hop is a cultural expression - it's embracing.

I appreciate and enjoy my age.

If now isn't a good time for the truth I don't see when we'll get to it.