Communicate, Somehow

Thank you, Nikki Giovanni

Last night I saw a great documentary on the poet Nikki Giovanni called Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project.

What I came away with was that Nikki really listened to herself, her inner self. And while her work is very much connected to the outside world, and concerned with others, she is able to keep her self deeply embedded in that connection. I don’t think I’m describing it very well, but it made an impression on me.

Why I am drawn to Nikki is not clear to me, but it began in 1975 when my college radio station had a contest and I won this album by Nikki below. I still have it.

I am not a consumer of poetry. But there is something about Ms. Giovanni that captivates me. I think its her humor, seriousness, playfulness and total commitment to what she thinks is right.

I have various outlets for what I do. Here, The New Yorker, Medium and social media. That’s about it. And public speaking, which I would like to do more of but it has been slow since the pandemic. What I want to do, is figure out how to connect and stay true to who I am. Figure out what it is in my skill set that will speak to others, say something and be of value to my desire to make a difference.

I have trouble defining myself as a “cartoonist.” I don’t mean to be flippant or sound snooty, it’s just I find that word is too defining for what I want to do. I wish there were a word like “poet” for visuals. Maybe “artist” is what I am looking for, but that is such an all-consuming word that covers so much territory.

It’s about taking in the world around you, processing it within your being and then sharing it with others. I’m not trying to get a specific reaction from my viewers, but a conversation. Maybe a smile. Maybe a nod of recognition. A laugh is wonderful. A thought. Maybe passing the visual on to another for more connection and introspection.

Communicating with others, that’s what it’s about.

Thank you, Ms. Giovanni.

Have a great Saturday and see you tomorrow.