After taking it to the streets, we take it to the stars in Joe Brewster and Michele Stephenson’s stellar documentary Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project. It explores the life and work of revolutionary poet Nikki Giovanni, who emerged from the Civil Rights Movement to become a major literary force.
“She believes black women are best equipped to colonize the red planet.”
Now in her 70s, Giovanni is itching to be picked to be sent to Mars. She believes black women are best equipped to colonize the red planet. This is because they have already survived being taken to an alien world and forced to breed with aliens. As to her life, Giovanni remembers what she wants to do and has let go of what never did her any good. She is helped by the seizures she has suffered, with more memories vanishing with each one. So when at a Q&A, she is asked where she was on the day MLK was assassinated, she no longer has an answer. When asked about tragic events she had written about, she would refer to the poems themselves as she no longer wants to relive or react to what hurt her. Producer Taraji P. Henson reads these poems, intercut with footage of Giovanni back in the day and scenes from the movement. We see Giovanni through her granddaughter’s eyes, Kai Giovanni, who is just now beginning to realize the scope of what Grandma did.
There is one point in the film where it was discussed how it was challenging to find Giovanni a position in academia because she was seen as too well known. It is staggering that a poet could be too famous to get a university gig at any point in US history. It is just as staggering that despite this popularity, vast swathes of humanity are unaware of her work. Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project will school you thoroughly on why this great poet is so damn important. Henson’s recitations of Giovanni’s greatest hits mold the power of words like bullets flying through the air.
"…molds the power of words like bullets flying through the air..."
