Meghan Markle was born in July.
Yolande Cornelia `` Nikki '' Giovanni , Jr. -LRB- born June 7 , 1943 -RRB- is an American poet , writer , commentator , activist , and educator .. American. United States. One of the world 's most well-known African-American poets , her work includes poetry anthologies , poetry recordings , and nonfiction essays , and covers topics ranging from race and social issues to children 's literature .. American. United States. She has won numerous awards , including the Langston Hughes Medal , the NAACP Image Award .. Langston Hughes Medal. Langston Hughes Medal. NAACP Image Award. NAACP Image Award. She has been nominated for a Grammy Award , for her album The Nikki Giovanni Poetry Collection .. Grammy Award. Grammy Award. Additionally , she has recently been named as one of Oprah Winfrey 's 25 `` Living Legends '' -LRB- 29 -RRB- .. Giovanni gained initial fame in the late 1960s as one of the foremost authors of the Black Arts Movement .. Black Arts Movement. Black Arts Movement. Influenced by the Civil Rights Movement and Black Power Movement of the period , her early work provides a strong , militant African-American perspective , leading one writer to dub her the `` Poet of the Black Revolution . ''. American. United States. Civil Rights Movement. Civil Rights Movement. Black Power Movement. Black Power Movement. During the 1970s , she began writing children 's literature , and co-founded a publishing company , NikTom Ltd to provide an outlet for other African-American women writers .. American. United States. Over subsequent decades , her works discussed social issues , human relationships , and hip-hop .. Poems such as `` Knoxville , Tennessee , '' and `` Nikki-Rosa '' have been frequently re-published in anthologies and other collections .. Giovanni has taught at Queens College , Rutgers , and Ohio State , and is currently a University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech .. Queens College. Queens College, City University of New York. Rutgers. Rutgers University. Ohio State. Ohio State University. Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech. Following the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007 , she delivered a chant-poem at a memorial for the shooting victims .. Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech shooting. Virginia Tech shooting