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. Ive never been far away from the humanrights struggle black people have been involved. In an interview with the oxford american, finney noted. In a 2011 interview with poets and writers magazine, finney declared, im trying to have a conversation about truth. Finney, who teaches in the university of kentucky s english department and is. On display this april is the work of kentucky poet nikky finney, who won the national book award last november for her latest collection, head.
Her work has been praised by walter mosley, nikki giovanni. Nikky finney to receive 2020 aiken taylor award the. Nikky finney is an awardwinning, southernborn poet, whose critically acclaimed work is imbued with a distinct sense of lyricism and recurring themes of both social justice and communal history. National book award winner nikky finney is the 2020 frank. November 16, 2011, 2011 national book awards ceremony, cipriani, wall street, nyc. A chicago publisher was recognized during the national book awards ceremony as nikky finney won the award for poetry for her collection. National book awardwinner nikky finney speaks at agnes scott college thursday, april 4, as part of the schools 2019 writers festival. List of winners of the national book award wikipedia. Returning to the same fishmonger as an adult and hearing the phrase hurtled her back into memories of childhood. She won the pen american open book award in 1996 and the elizabeth oneill. Featuring introductions by john lithgow and elizabeth. National book awardwinner nikky finney returns to conway.
Nikky finney wins national book award for poetry chicago. Nikky finney acceptance speech national book award for poetry duration. 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. An alumna of talladega college, and author of four books of poetry and a short story cycle, finney is an advocate for social justice and cultural preservation. Of the four honorees, two were african american women who spoke about the importance of literature that represents black experiences. Finneys father began his career as a civil rights attorney, and. The daughter of a lawyer and teacher, finney s parents were both active in the civil rights movement and her childhood was shaped by the turmoil and unrest of the south in the 1960s and 70s. Citylit project national book award winner nikky finney. Nikky finney is an awardwinning poet and the provosts distinguished service professor of english at the university of kentucky.
Lexington poet nikky finney was named a finalist wednesday for the 2011 national book award in poetry. Finney is an advocate for social justice and cultural preservation. One of three children, finney is the only daughter of ernest. The first translation award ran from 19681983 and was for fiction only, the translated author could be living or dead eg.
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. Pen american open book award national book award for poetry nikky finney born lynn carol finney on august 26, 1957, in conway, south carolina is an american poet. Poet nikky finney was born in 1957 in south carolina. Winner, 2011 national book awards nikky finney was born in south carolina, within listening distance of the sea. Finney and her work have been featured on russell simmons def poetry hbo series, renowned chef marcus samuelssons feature the meaning of food a pbs production and national public radio. Nikky finney born lynn carol finney on august 26, 1957 in conway, south carolina is an american poet. National book award winner nikky finney is the 2020 frank b. Through the years finney harnessed that indignation into something beautiful and often healing. Nikky finney pennys poetry pages wiki fandom powered. Nikky finney was born by the sea in south carolina and raised during the civil rights, black power, and black arts movements. Even the ceremonys emcee, actor john lithgow, exclaimed, thats the best acceptance.
Nikky finney has been writing poetry since she was a teenager, but those early attempts were often terrible, horrible rants, as she describes them. Nikky finney was born in south carolina, within listening distance of the sea. Finney was born lynn carol finney, 1 of 3 children, and the only daughter, of ernest a. National book award 2011 winners jesmyn ward and nikky. Nikky finneys 2011 national book award in poetry acceptance speech. Nikky finney acceptance speech national book award for. Uk professor nikky finney wins national book award for.
Nikky finney acceptance speech national book award for poetry. A child of activists, she came of age during the civil rights and black arts movements. Finney attended the award ceremony last night in new york city, where she accepted the highly prestigious honor. Nikky finney born august 26, 1957 is an awardwinning africanamerican poet and academic. She is an awardwinning american poet, respected academic, and social justice and cultural preservation advocate. Finney has long encouraged other lesbian poets to write, publish, and read their.
Finding a window by kimberly reyes poetry foundation. The national book award for translated literature was inaugurated in 2018 for fiction or nonfiction, where both author and translator were alive at the beginning of the awards cycle. Political, sensual, historical, imaginative, finneys poems speak of struggle, beauty, love, and race with passion and tenderness. The daughter of a lawyer and teacher, finneys parents were both active in the civil rights movement and her childhood was shaped by the turmoil and unrest of the south in the 1960s and 70s. National book award 2011 winners jesmyn ward and nikky finney tackle race and history video the national book awards 2011 winners exhibited diversity in the literary world. Nikky finney, national book award acceptance speech, 2011 in nikky finney s acceptance speech for the 2011 national book award for poetry, she began with history.
The schomburg center for research in black culture, where she has been teaching for several years, congratulates her on her wonderful achievement. Nikky finney shines december 1, 2011 the four recipients of the 2011 national book awards are jesmyn ward in fiction for her novel salvage the bones. In addition to the national book award, finney has received a pen american open book award and the benjamin franklin award for poetry the academy of american poets is the largest membershipbased nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting american poets. The poet demonstrates what can never be controlled. She was the guy davenport endowed professor of english at the university of kentucky for twenty years. Nikky finney wins national book award in poetry the new. One of three children, finney is the only daughter of ernest a. The national book awards acceptance speech for poetry. Nikky finney was born at the rim of the atlantic ocean, in south carolina, in 1957. Nikky finney in addition to the national book award, finney has received a pen american open book award and the benjamin franklin award for poetry.
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 the conway city hall. Featuring introductions by john lithgow and elizabeth alexander. Awards host john lithgow called this the best acceptance speech for anything i have ever heard. Nikky finney wins national book award for poetry chicago tribune.
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