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Prairie View A&M University’s Toni Morrison Writing Program hosted a public lecture for Nikki Giovanni. The lecture took place at The Ensemble Theatre in Houston, at 7 p.m. Giovanni read and reflected on her work as part of her appointment as writer-in-residence. Source: Nicholas Hunt/Office of Marketing and Communications/Prairie View A&M / Getty

World-renowned American poet, author, and educator Nikki Giovanni has died at the age of 81. According to AP, Giovanni died with her lifelong partner, Virginia (Ginney) Fowler, by her side, which was confirmed to AP by friend and author Renée Watson.

“We will forever feel blessed to have shared a legacy and love with our dear cousin,” Allison (Pat) Ragan, Giovanni’s cousin, said in a statement on behalf of the family.

Giovanni was a one-of-a-kind writing talent who tackled everything from racism to love to life and death in her works. An author of more than 25 books, Giovanni was a natural-born writer and performer. Her poetry collections have sold …