Day 10: How Resilience Intertwines with Hope
Even if death, the hope-filled words of a poet live on.
Nikki Giovanni, one of America’s most renowned poets, died yesterday at the age of 81. Giovanni was not only a literary icon but also a living testament to resilience. Her journey and her commitment to activism reveals the strength of a woman who continuously used her voice to inspire others, even in the face of adversity.
Yesterday, I wrote about creativity as a way to engender hope. Giovanni’s poetry emerged for her as her way to infuse hope into her life and all those who read her work. As a young Black girl born in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1943, she faced systemic inequality and limited opportunities. Yet rather than succumbing to despair, Giovanni found solace in education and the power of words. Her passion for literature grew during her time at Fisk University, a historically Black college, where she immersed herself in the works of Black writers and thinkers.
At Fisk, Giovanni encountered resistance to her outspoken nature. Her boldness sometimes clashed with institutional norms, leading to a temporary expulsion. However, her return to the university and eventual graduation in 1967 exemplified her resilience. She used this experience to fuel her determination, understanding that her voice and vision were too important to be silenced.
In the wake of her grandparents' deaths, she turned to writing as a means of processing her grief. Her first self-published book, Black Feeling, Black Talk (1968), became an outlet for expressing her anger, pain, and hope during the Civil Rights era. The collection resonated with many and launched her career as a prominent poet.
Her work became a cornerstone of the Black Arts Movement, a period during the 1960s and 70s where African American writers and artists celebrated Black identity and resistance. Giovanni's bold and unapologetic style stood out as she tackled issues like racism, love, and empowerment. She proudly spoke of her love of her wife, Virginia Fowler, a fellow faculty member at Virginia Tech and her biographer.
In 1995, Giovanni faced a life-altering health challenge when she was diagnosed with lung cancer for the first time, finally succumbing after her third battle. Giovanni’s resilience was evident not just in her recovery but in how she used the experience to deepen her perspective on life. She approached the disease with courage and resolve, undergoing extensive treatment while continuing to write, teach, and inspire others.
Although I have to admit I’m not a big consumer of poetry (as my poet-wife will attest), I love Giovanni’s poem “Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea (We’re Going to Mars)” because it reflects a vision of resilience intertwined with hope. In this poem, Giovanni reflects on historical injustices, including slavery and prejudice, but expresses hope that future endeavors, like traveling to Mars, for example, might give us the impetuous to start over and create a future where diverse communities coexist harmoniously, learning from each other and celebrating shared humanity.
Another favorite of mine reminds me that transformation is possible if we just stay still long enough to experience it.
Winter Poem
once a snowflake fell
on my brow and i loved
it so much and i kissed
it and it was happy and called its cousins
and brothers and a web
of snow engulfed me then
i reached to love them all
and i squeezed them and they became
a spring rain and i stood perfectly
still and was a flower
—Nikki Giovanni, “Winter Poem” from The Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni. Copyright © 1996 by Nikki Giovanni.
As a professor at Virginia Tech, Giovanni became a beloved figure on campus because she encouraged students to find their voices and speaks their minds.
I first learned about Nikki Giovanni in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007. When I responded to the shooting as a trauma response coordinator in my role with the Unitarian Universalist Association, Giovanni’s presence could be felt everywhere on campus. The words she spoke at the remembrance ceremony for victims of the shooting helped a grieving community find solace. "We are Virginia Tech," became a rallying cry of unity and hope in the devastated community.
Giovanni’s story reminds me that resilience is not just about surviving hardships but about using them as a catalyst for growth and transformation. Her life and work stand as a powerful example of how creativity, conviction, and community can turn adversity into strength. For Giovanni, resilience was not a passive trait; it was an active, vibrant force that shaped her art, her activism, and her enduring legacy.
Lessons from Resilient Individuals
What can we learn from Giovanni’s life story? I think the most important thing is that resilience isn’t inherited but is cultivated through mindset, actions, and choices. Here are a few key lessons:
Find Meaning in Adversity
Resilient individuals often frame their challenges as opportunities for growth. Victor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, famously wrote in Man’s Search for Meaning that those who find meaning in suffering are more likely to endure it.Focus on What You Can Control
Resilience involves concentrating energy on areas where we have influence. Nelson Mandela couldn’t control his imprisonment, but he could control his thoughts, relationships, and how he envisioned his future.Build a Support Network
No one is resilient in isolation. Just like, Giovanni espoused in “We Are Virginia Tech,” friends, family, mentors, and communities can provide the emotional strength needed to persevere.Practice Optimism
Optimism does not mean ignoring difficulties but believing that better days are ahead. Resilient individuals maintain hope and strive for solutions even when the path is unclear.
How to Cultivate Your Own Resilience
Reflect on Personal Stories
Think about a time in your life when you overcame a significant challenge. What strengths helped you through? How did you grow from the experience?Seek Inspiration
Read biographies, watch documentaries, or listen to podcasts about resilient individuals. Their journeys can provide both perspective and motivation. My involvement with the Living Legacy Project over the past sixteen years has allowed me to stay hopeful even when it feels like all hope is lost because I’m constantly reminded of how resilient people made it to the other side.Take Small Steps
Resilience isn’t about making giant leaps; it’s about taking small, consistent steps forward. Each step builds momentum and reinforces your ability to cope.
Today’s Reflection
Reflect on a story of resilience—whether from your own life, someone you admire, or a historical figure. How does their example inspire you to face your own challenges? Share your thoughts in words, images, or any creative form.
With hope in my heart,
Annette
Notes
The Poetry Foundation
Profile on Nikki Giovanni: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/nikki-giovanni
Academy of American Poets
Biography and selected works: https://poets.org/poet/nikki-giovanni
Wikipedia
KnoxNews
New York Times
What joy contained in that spare poem! Thanks for sharing that, and all of these great insights, Annette.