Awards host john lithgow called this the best acceptance speech for anything i have ever heard. Finneys targeted result of her independent years was achieved. Nationally acclaimed poet nikky finney will read from her new book, head off amp. She was the guy davenport endowed professor of english at the univ. National book awardwinning poet nikky finney will edit a usc press poetry series.
She published her first book in 1985, and has taught writing for years at the. National book awardwinning poet nikky finney reads her poems brown country, the vertigo, and penguin mullet bread at the 2017 geography of hope conference. Not only does her story prove that a person with a dream can make that dream a reality, but that an african. Nikky finney was born in south carolina, within listening distance of the sea. Rice was finneys second book, arriving 10 years after her 1985 debut, on wings made of gauze. Nikky finney was my poetry teacher and mentor at the university of kentucky years ago. Nikky finney acceptance speech national book award for poetry. Uk professor nikky finney wins national book award for poetry. How nikky finney found her own path to poetry ever since she was 19 years old, nikky finney dreamed of being a poet. Nikky finney helped me and others in the audience find the true meaning of honor of honoring those who without measure of quantity pour generously into our lives. Finneys acceptance speech at the awards ceremony was as poetic as. In nikky finneys acceptance speech for the 2011 national book award for poetry, she began with history. The renowned poets acceptance speech traced the history of.
South carolina poet nikky finney never meant to write the speech that earned her a place in history at the new national museum of african american history and culture in washington. Jacqueline woodson responds to national book awards. According to the huffington post, actor john lithgow, host of the awards ceremony in new york city, commented that nikky finney gave the best acceptance speech ive ever heard for anything in my life. Immediately, the book opens with a powerful introduction poem, titled resurrection of the errand girl. Finney named national book award finalist share this page. The reading will take place in the special collections library, in the great hall of the king building, with a reception to follow. Her acceptance speech, less than five minutes long, became a widely circulated statement on race, history and writing.
Nikky finney wins national book award for poetry chicago tribune. A creative writing professor at the university of kentucky has been named a finalist for the 2011 national book award in poetry. Nikky finney biography, birth date, birth place and pictures. Split, at elizabethtown community and technical college on tuesday, march 29, at 4. Finney, uks first national book award winner, attended the award ceremony last night in new york city, where she accepted the highly prestigious honor. National book awardwinning poet nikky finney knows the benefit of a good mentor. National book awardwinner nikky finney returns to conway.
Nikky finney, the 61st national book of poetry award. Nikky finney, national book award acceptance speech, 2011 in nikky finneys acceptance speech for the 2011 national book award for poetry, she began with history. On wings made of gauze, her first book of poems, was completed in atlanta. Proud to have been taught by this woman, sorority sister of mine, divine spirit. In south carolina, enslaved people were explicitly barred from becoming literate by the negro act of 1740, enacted in response to the stono rebellion the previous year. April is national poetry month, a time when bookstores proudly display. English professor nikky finney was named for the prestigious award for her recent work, head. With these instrumental eras circling her, finneys work provides firstperson literary accounts to some of the most important events in american history.
Nikky finney, jesmyn ward take national book awards. National book award winner nikky finney is the 2020 frank. Nikky finneys work, in book form and video, including her now legendary acceptance speech, is on display in the inaugural exhibition of the african american museum of history and culture in washington, d. Nikky finney is a brilliant american poet, winner of, among many awards, the 2011 national book award for poetry check out here awesome acceptance speech here. The national book awards jumps on the occupy wagon. At talladega college, nurtured by hale woodruffs amistad murals, finney began to understand the powerful synergy between art and history. The national book awards ceremony, held just blocks from the occupy wall street protests, was a gilded tribute to the 99 percent. To be eligible for an award, a book must have been written by a united states citizen. This is perhaps the most appropriate response to the questions set forth by national book award winning poet nikky finneys remarkable guestcurated series at the nickelodeon theatre. Nikky finneys 2011 national book award in poetry acceptance. Finney is also a founding member of the affrilachian poets, a group of black appalachian poets. In south carolina, enslaved people were explicitly. But nothing resonates the way nikky finneys national book award speech does.
Nikky finney acceptance speech national book award for poetry duration. Finney is the provosts distinguished service professor of english at the university of kentucky, and lives in lexington. Nikky finney is an awardwinning american poet, and the provosts distinguished service professor of english at the university of kentucky. National book awards go to salvage the bones and swerve. Finney, uks first national book award winner, attended the award ceremony. Poet nikky finney at ectc reception, reading book signing. Uk professor nikky finney wins national book award for. With these instrumental eras circling her, finneys work provides firstperson literary accounts to some of the most important events in. Ward, finney are among 2011 national book award winners. Sc poet nikky finney earns place in history at new dc. New york jesmyn ward won the national book award for fiction wednesday night for salvage the bones, a haunting tale of the struggles of a 15yearold pregnant girl as a hurricane bears. South carolina poet nikky finney never meant to write the speech that earned her a place in history at the new national museum of african american history and culture in.
Todays selection was the first finney poem i encountered, girlfriends train, read by the poet herself. You will find her in the poets corner, directly across from chuck berrys 1973 candy apple red cadillac eldorado. As part of the promotional drive, finney distributed small burlap bags full of rice. Nikky finneys 2011 national book awards in poetry acceptance speech. Finney attended the award ceremony last night in new york city, where she accepted the highly prestigious honor. The 2011 national book awards were announced at a ceremony in new york wednesday night. Nikky finney, author of six poetry collections, and recipient of the 2011 national book award for poetry will be visiting campus from feb 23 to feb 28 as the 2020 frank b.
Conway is planning a big welcome home event for poet, educator, advocate and national book awardwinner nikky finney friday at coastal carolina university and saturday at. And the story goes as most stories commence, nikky said, paraphrase because as i get older memory fails toni wanted paper to write as she lay in the hospital. Her acceptance speech at the awards ceremony, touching on race, reading and writing, was judged by host john lithgow as the best acceptance speech for anything that ive ever heard in my life. At talladega college, nurtured by hale woodruffs amistad murals, finney began to. Nikky finney born lynn carol finney on august 26, 1957 in conway, south carolina is an american poet.
She has received a pen america open book award and the benjamin franklin award for. The national book awards jumps on the occupy wagon the. Current and historical winners of the national book awards, with links to further information at bookbrowse. That personal bias aside, this is an astounding, moving work by a woman who splits herself and you wide open as she pours out raw, haunting stories of her familys experience growing up poor, black and strong in southern america. Nikky finney acceptance speech national book award for. Impressive as finneys achievement is in this volume, her acceptance speech for the nba was a powerpacked appetizer for the book. Nikky finney was born at the rim of the atlantic ocean, in south carolina, in 1957.
Salvage the bones a national book award winner the. A child of activists, she came of age during the civil rights and black arts movements. Chair of southern literature and creative writing at the university of south carolina, has benefited firsthand from the counsel and friendship of writers like poet and. Nikky finneys the afterbirth, 1931 appears in rice, a beautifully designed book filled with daring poems of painful eloquence. Jacqueline woodson responds to national book awards watermelon joke. The poet demonstrates what can never be controlled. Current and previous winners of the national book awards, with information on the award and the books which have won it. Nikky finney was inducted into the south carolina academy of authors in 20. The national book awards acceptance speech for poetry. Current and previous winners of the national book awards. Nikky finney, who won the award for poetry in 2011 and added a blistering acceptance speech, wrote on her personal website that handlers remarks were just one example of the casual racism thats endemic in the literary world. Our past, present, and future held in point reyes, california. Her acceptance speech has become a thing of legend.
The beauty and difficulty of poet nikky finney art is about being provocative, says the awardwinning poet. Finneys acceptance speech for her award combined poetry with a gorgeously stated discussion of race, writing and reading. Finney, uks first national book award winner, attended the award ceremony in new york city nov. Nikky finneys 2011 national book awards in poetry acceptance. In celebration of national poetry month this april, the uk libraries is sponsoring a poetry reading by nikky finney. Nikky finneys 2011 national book award in poetry acceptance speech. Finney won the national book award for poetry in 2011. South carolina poet nikky finney featured at new african. Nikky finney s 2011 national book award in poetry acceptance speech. After all, history does not keep books on the handiwork of slaves. Nikky finney, author info, published books, bio, photo. She has received numerous awards for her work, including a pen america open book award and the benjamin franklin award for poetry. Her acceptance speech has become a thing of legend, described by the 2011 nba host, john lithgow. The daughter of activists and educators, she began writing in the midst of the civil rights and black arts movements.
441 1523 1493 97 660 691 100 118 1251 1053 1173 288 875 520 560 1120 650 1079 1470 371 1331 1453 376 470 133 1201 216 677 801 308 1376 565 1381 1260 722 943 783 1082 373 1476