Ego Trippin

Millie Crowder

October 9, 2012

English 102;001

This paper is an analysis of a poem by Nikki Giovanni about Africa, called "Ego Tripping," subtitled "(there may be a reason why)." Published in 1970, during the civil rights movement, it is a proud declaration of Africa's material and cultural abundance. Giovanni's personalizes African pride, reminding her readers of much of what the continent has contributed the history and civilization.

Yolande Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni Jr. began her writing career by publishing a number of collections of short poems in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and this piece was included in the third collection, Re: Creation, which came out in 1970. It was printed by her own publishing company, NikTom, Ltd., which was founded that year. Joyce Duncan observes, "Giovanni's work serves as an inspiration for young, talented, ambitious blacks who seek a sense of ethnic identity or aspire to the arts" (627).

This poem is a good example of her early style, which Duncan describes as, "free verse expounded by an urban voice, offering blackness as a theme, both personal and communal. Combining private and public concerns, the poetry commands African Americans, particularly the young, to seize control of their own destinies" (633). It personalizes the continent, having it speak as though it were a woman who is boasting of all her many accomplishments. The title reminds the reader that this can be seen as an enormous ego trip, while the subtitle suggests that this vanity may actually be justified. The Africa of this poem is a mighty place with a noble history and great riches.

Those riches are specifically named late in the poem, starting with the boast, "I sowed diamonds in my backyard" (22) and ending with the claim, "The hair from my head thinned and gold was laid across three continents" (29). This is a reminder that Africa is seen by most scientists as the beginning of all things, both the first place where human beings walked on the planet and the original source of its material wealth. Africa is the source of much of the world's uranium, of a range of semi-precious jewels, and gave "oil to the arab world" (26). This "beautiful woman" (8) is "so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal" that she "cannot be comprehended except by my permission" (29-30).

Giovanni creates striking images throughout the poem's brief sweep, a characteristic of her writing. She also uses some techniques that are typical of her poetry. As Duncan observes:

Family,