Nikki Giovanni emphasizes all of the issues, however most notably, she is likely one of the most celebrated and adorned poets of our era. The Fisk College alumna and Chicago native is a poet, activist, mom, spouse, creator, speaker, professor, and most not too long ago, the topic of her personal documentary on HBO Max.
The documentary, Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Mission, launched on HBO Max January eighth. The movie is narrated by Howard alum, award successful actress, Taraji P. Henson.
Henson’s voice follows the legendary poet and activist ascendance and impression on American tradition. Produced by Confluential Movies and Rada Studio, in affiliation with JustFilms | Ford Basis, the documentary tells the story of Giovanni’s life by means of archival footage, new interviews, nonetheless pictures, and beautiful afro-futuristic visuals.
The mission, which took seven years to movie, is fantastically crafted and demonstrates Giovanni’s journey and the struggles many Black folks — particularly Black ladies — face whereas navigating life in America.
Henson, who has been vocal in current weeks about the mistreatment and pay inequity Black ladies face in Hollywood, supplied her personal insights into why she selected to assist deliver “Going to Mars” to life: “After I did get the decision, my intuition knew as a Black girl on this business, that this queen deserves one of the best of one of the best so I confirmed up,” she stated.
“That’s what we’ve got to do on this business. We’ve to indicate up for one another, particularly whenever you’re African American, as a result of they don’t see the significance of our tales. We’ve to combat day in and day trip to inform these tales as a result of they’re vital.”
For Henson, who first found Giovanni as a scholar at Howard College, it’s literary icons like Giovanni who paved the way in which for her and gave her the braveness to be equally unapologetic. “She doesn’t disguise behind issues. She is the strolling, dwelling respiration reality,” Henson informed THR in a dialog about her love for Giovanni and the cinematic portrait of the artist. “I’m very pleased with this mission. I actually, actually am.”
“I went to a traditionally Black school. That’s the place I met and fell in love with the work of Nikki Giovanni. Once you’re in school, you’re studying who you’re as a younger grownup. And I’m grateful that I went to an HBCU as a result of I discovered rather a lot about my historical past as an African American, as a Black girl — I discovered my place on this planet.”
Henson says it’s poets like Nikki Giovanni who “gave me a voice, who made me come out to Hollywood and rise up for the issues that I imagine” — “that’s [me] standing on her shoulders and her knowledge and her phrases.”
“I didn’t search this; this mission got here to me, and I imagine it got here to me for a purpose.”
Try the official trailer on YouTube under.
To look at the total documentary, subscribe to Max.
