About the Book

"For more than fifty years, Nikki Giovanni's poetry has dazzled and inspired readers. As sharp and outspoken as ever, she returns with this profound book of poetry in which she continues to call attention to injustice and racism, celebrate Black culture and Black lives, and give readers an unfiltered look into her own experiences. In Make Me Rain, she exalts her loved ones and unapologetically declares her pride in her Black heritage, while exploring the enduring impact of the twin sins of racism and white nationalism. Giovanni reaffirms her place as a uniquely vibrant and relevant American voice with poems such as 'I Come from Athletes' and 'Rainy Days,' calling out segregation and Donald Trump, as well as 'Unloved (for Aunt Cleota)' and 'When I Could No Longer' -- her personal elegy for the relatives who saved her from an abusive home life. Stirring provocative, and resonant, the poems in Make Me Rain pierce the heart and nourish the soul."

Book Synopsis

One of America's most celebrated poets challenges us with this powerful and deeply personal collection of lyrical poetry that speaks to the injustices of society while illuminating the depths of her own heart.

For more than fifty years, Nikki Giovanni's poetry has dazzled and inspired readers. As sharp and outspoken as ever, she returns with this profound book of social justice poetry in which she continues to call attention to injustice and racism, celebrate Black culture and Black lives, and give readers an unfiltered look into her own experiences.

In Make Me Rain, she celebrates her loved ones and unapologetically declares her pride in her Black heritage, while exploring the enduring impact of the twin sins of racism and white nationalism. Giovanni reaffirms her place as a uniquely vibrant and relevant voice in African American poetry with poems such as "I Come from Athletes" and "Rainy Days"--calling out segregation and Donald Trump; as well as "Unloved (for Aunt Cleota)" and "When I Could No Longer"--her personal elegy for the relatives who saved her from an abusive home life.

Stirring, provocative, and resonant, the poems in Make Me Rain pierce the heart and nourish the soul.

"If there was a need for poetry that galvanized and inspired, there was also a demand for poetry that comforted and unified -- and Ms. Giovanni provided on both counts." -- The Washington Post

In this profound collection, Giovanni masterfully weaves the personal and the political, the timely and the timeless.

• A Legendary Voice: After more than fifty years, Nikki Giovanni remains as sharp and outspoken as ever, delivering a powerful and unapologetic celebration of Black culture and heritage.
• The Personal and Political: Giovanni fearlessly confronts the national sins of racism and white nationalism while also sharing deeply personal elegies for the family who saved her from an abusive home.
• Timely Social Commentary: With unflinching clarity, these poems take on everything from segregation to contemporary politics, reaffirming Giovanni's place as a uniquely relevant American voice.
• Inspirational Verse: A stirring and resonant collection that challenges readers on injustice while ultimately piercing the heart and nourishing the soul with poems of love, family, and resilience.

Review Quotes

"The work of Nikki Giovanni has been as evolutionary as it has been revolutionary. One of the finest poets of our time. . . Her work still resonates." - Ebony
"Nikki Giovanni's work has always been remarkable for energy, venturesomeness, direct honesty, and courage." - Gwendolyn Brooks
"Black love, Black struggle and Black joy have long been at the center of Giovanni's work. Her newest book is thick with affection for African-American people in their everyday lives." - New York Times
"Giovanni . . . celebrates in her poignant 20^th collection art as redemptive of traumas past and present, illuminating the way in which 'the blues is our encyclopedia' . . . The most memorable moments in the collection reveal the cutting directness that made her a laureate of the Black Arts Movement." - Publishers Weekly
"Nikki Giovanni--one of the great poets of any generation--still has much to impart in Make Me Rain, her hybrid autobiography of poems and prose. Given the tumultuous aspects of 2020, the disruptions and the dislocations of quotidian and public life, there's a refreshing discordance in reading Giovanni's newest and especially personal collection... This book is indeed a love letter, a celebration, both musical and soft-spoken, that doesn't shy away from politics or pain, but is, above all, hopeful and thankful... History matters. Storytelling matters. Who we choose to be matters. Nikki Giovanni--this collection--reminds us of why." - Chicago Review of Books