I have been re-reading Nikki Giovanni’s autobiographical essays, Sacred Cows…and Other Edibles. I think I had the pleasure of seeing her jump up on a cafeteria table at UT El Paso years ago to begin a reading. Such a feisty spirit.

In the past, I had the pleasure of reading with Gwendolyn Brooks, Sonia Sanchez, and expressing a teary thanks to Lucille Clifton before we read together. Such an honor to read with these poets. Nikki Giovanni ends Sacred Cows with the following, “It is the willingness to pioneer the one trek we all can make…no matter what our station or location in life…the existential reality that wherever there is life…we are at home.”

Perhaps thanks to education, news and social media more of us are aware of our human diversity and of our responsibility to protect our planet.
Pat