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438:, College Park. This work provides an opportunity for students and faculty to delve into complex topics using a common text. Finney was also commissioned to write a new poem entitled "The Battle of and for the Black Face Boy" to be presented to the campus community in October 2015. She is a contributor to the 2019 anthology
239:
and graduating from
Talladega College in 1979, Finney began her artistic career as a photographer. Finney committed to documenting the trajectory of African-American contributions to American creativity and culture. In Alabama, Finney continued to advance as an autodidactic poet and creative artist.
373:, was published by Inner Light Publishing in 2003. In 2005, she became Full Professor in the English Department at the University of Kentucky. In 2006, she was appointed Interim Director of the African American Studies and Research Program at the University of Kentucky. After the publication of
216:, Finney was anchored in her youth by her maternal grandmother Beulah Lenorah Butler Davenport and by the inimitable constancy of the nearby South Carolina sea. A bookworm in childhood, she composed poetry and acquired the nickname "Nikky", likely in reference to poet
423:
was announced as a finalist for the 2011 National Book Awards, with Finney honored as the 2011 winner of the
National Book Award for Poetry on November 16, 2011. Her acceptance speech at the awards ceremony, touching on race, reading and writing, was judged by host
451:
Finney is a founding member of the
Affrilachian Poets, a writing collective based in Lexington, Kentucky. She has served on the faculty and Board of the Cave Canem Foundation, where she shepherds younger poets in the spirit of her mentorship experience.
198:. Both of Finney's brothers are attorneys in South Carolina: her older brother, Ernest "Chip" Finney, III, elected Solicitor of the Third Judicial Circuit, and her younger brother, Jerry Leo Finney, in private practice in
267:. Ultimately, limited potential for creative work in academic programs caused Finney to abandon the constraints of graduate study and return to Talladega to work as a photographer. Hired as photographer and reporter by
175:
of the state of South
Carolina, and Frances Davenport Finney, elementary school teacher. Finney's father began his career as a civil rights attorney, and in 1961, served as Head Legal Counsel for the
369:(founded in 1855), the first interracial and coeducational college in the South. After returning to the English Department at the University of Kentucky, Finney's third book of poetry,
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322:, where she involved herself with progressive causes, and continued independent work as a poet. She was recruited to a position as Visiting Writer in the English department at the
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144:, and author of four books of poetry and a short-story cycle, Finney is an advocate for social justice and cultural preservation. Her honors include the 2011
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408:, with entries selected and edited by Finney, showcased the work of one hundred African-American poets who are southern or who wrote on southern subjects.
307:, her first book of poems, was completed in Atlanta. The book was read and ushered to the late Eunice Riedel by Nikki Giovanni. Riedel acquired and edited
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Both Finney's parents were raised on the family-owned land: Justice Finney on a farm in
Virginia, and Frances Davenport Finney on a farm in
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Educated first in
Catholic grade school, and then in South Carolina public schools during the riotous struggle over
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830:"12 Lives: People Changing South Carolina. Ernest Finney: From Waiter to State Supreme Court Chief Justice"
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2004: Benjamin
Franklin Awards (Independent Booksellers Association), First Place for Poetry,
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760:. Retrieved April 8, 2012. (With acceptance speech, interview, reading, and other material.)
330:. In 1993, Finney was offered a post on the permanent faculty. Her second book of poetry,
209:. Themes of the African-American relationship to the land surface throughout Finney's work.
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Finney took a leave from the
University of Kentucky in 1999 to hold the Goode Chair in the
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stands as the book that brought Finney her many grassroots followers. Her story cycle
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187:. In 1994, Ernest Finney, Jr., was appointed by the State Legislature as the first
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as the John H. Bennett, Jr. Chair in
Southern Letters and Literature. An alumna of
1003:"Poetry Reading: At War With Ourselves | The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center"
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in
Alabama, where she was mentored by poet and essayist Dr Gloria Wade Gayles.
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as "the best acceptance speech for anything that I've ever heard in my life".
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978:"UMD Selects Finney's "Head Off & Split" as 2015–2016 First Year Book"
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338:, and was published in 1995 by SisterVisions, a Canadian press. In 1997,
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Edwin C. Epps, Literary South Carolina, Hub City Writing Project, 2004.
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1076:"2013 Inductee to the South Carolina Academy of Authors: Nikky Finney"
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After publication of her first book of poems, Finney relocated to the
860:. In Joanne V. Gabbin; Wintergreen Women Writers' Collective (eds.).
482:
2002: Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent, Chicago, Illinois
179:, black junior college students arrested and charged when trying to
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152:. Finney is a member of The Wintergreen Women Writers Collective.
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276:
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805:"S.C. native, Nikky Finney, wins National Book Award for poetry"
354:, designed for literacy students, was published in 1998, by the
303:
Finney's targeted result of her independent years was achieved:
132:. She was the Guy Davenport Endowed Professor of English at the
862:
Shaping Memories: reflections of African American women writers
774:"National Book Awards Go to Lai, Finney, Greenblatt, and Ward "
168:
30:
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Lovechild’s Hot Bed of Occasional Poetry: Poems and Artifacts
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220:, who would later become a friend and mentor. Graduated from
1058:"Inauguration reading has raised profile of poet and poetry"
732:"Poet Nikky Finney offers farewell gifts to Carnegie Center"
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2013: Induction into the South Carolina Academy of Authors
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for twenty years. In 2013, she accepted a position at the
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One of three children, Finney is the only daughter of
864:. University Press of Mississippi. pp. 143–145.
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326:(1989–90), by South Carolina-born novelist and poet
434:was selected as the 2015–16 First Year Book by the
947:"Nikky Finney wins National Book Award for poetry"
251:department, under African-American historians Dr.
902:"National Book Awards Finalists Announced on OPB"
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928:"Professor wins National Book Award for Poetry"
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295:Finney reading at Annikki Poetry Festival in
392:Finney edited and wrote the introduction to
1176:21st-century African-American women writers
1161:20th-century African-American women writers
682:. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 333.
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792:"The Wintergreen Women Writers Collective"
653:"The Wider Sky: A Profile of Nikky Finney"
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485:2002: Honorary Doctorate of Humanities,
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385:, where she served for two years as the
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612:The Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South
592:, Northwestern University Press, 2020,
579:, Northwestern University Press, 2011,
394:The Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South
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1131:African American Studies Department UK
945:Kellogg, Carolyn (November 17, 2011),
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549:. University Press of Kentucky. 1997.
1186:21st-century African-American writers
1171:20th-century African-American writers
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615:. University of Georgia Press. 2007.
273:National Black Women's Health Project
1090:"Book Deals: Week of April 22, 2019"
1056:Davis, Merlene (September 6, 2009).
803:Guzior, Betsey (November 17, 2011),
768:
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1181:21st-century American women writers
1166:20th-century American women writers
1078:, South Caroline Academy of Author.
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719:. Kentucky.com. September 13, 2012.
679:Writing African American Women: A-J
13:
1241:People from Conway, South Carolina
1126:Notable Kentucky African Americans
976:Seabolt, Kristen (June 22, 2015).
772:Habash, Gabe (November 16, 2011).
14:
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926:Priest, Joy (November 16, 2011).
856:Finney, Nikky (August 11, 2009).
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676:Beaulieu, Elizabeth Ann (2006).
661:, March / April 2011, pp. 42–49.
224:in 1975, Finney matriculated at
1221:Clark Atlanta University alumni
1088:Hartman, Liz (April 19, 2019).
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419:in 2011. On October 12, 2011,
411:Finney's fourth book of poems,
400:in 2007, under the auspices of
255:and Dr. David Dorsey. While in
1256:University of Kentucky faculty
1136:"Interview with: Nikky Finney"
828:Lett, Mark E. (June 5, 2011).
785:
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499:National Book Award for Poetry
99:National Book Award for Poetry
1:
966:, speech at time code 16:45).
754:"National Book Awards – 2011"
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417:Northwestern University Press
396:, which was published by the
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356:University Press of Kentucky
344:PEN American Open Book Award
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138:University of South Carolina
111:and Frances Davenport Finney
96:PEN American Open Book Award
7:
1261:American women anthologists
1236:National Book Award winners
1062:The Lexington Herald Leader
730:Eblen, Tom (May 29, 2013).
577:Head Off & Split: Poems
398:University of Georgia Press
183:McCrory's lunch counter in
10:
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962:November 19, 2011, at the
914:Oregon Public Broadcasting
907:November 14, 2011, at the
900:Staff (October 12, 2011).
810:November 18, 2011, at the
383:Northampton, Massachusetts
299:, Finland, on June 9, 2012
1246:Poets from South Carolina
566:, InnerLight Pub., 2003,
311:, which was published by
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185:Rock Hill, South Carolina
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16:American poet (born 1957)
1251:Talladega College alumni
1206:American women academics
835:August 12, 2011, at the
758:National Book Foundation
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473:PEN/Beyond Margins Award
377:, Finney was invited to
249:African-American Studies
235:After studying with Dr.
194:of South Carolina since
1027:New daughters of Africa
1024:Busby, Margaret (ed.).
736:Lexington Herald-Leader
716:Lexington Herald-Leader
533:, Sister Vision, 1995,
441:New Daughters of Africa
243:Finney matriculated at
124:on August 26, 1957, in
1196:African-American poets
518:On Wings Made of Gauze
436:University of Maryland
324:University of Kentucky
309:On Wings Made of Gauze
305:On Wings Made of Gauze
300:
134:University of Kentucky
126:Conway, South Carolina
56:Conway, South Carolina
1226:Writers from Kentucky
1216:Berea College faculty
1045:– via WorldCat.
463:Kentucky Arts Council
387:Grace Hazard Conkling
294:
275:, Finney traveled to
162:Ernest A. Finney, Jr.
109:Ernest A. Finney, Jr.
1211:American women poets
503:Head Off & Split
432:Head Off & Split
421:Head Off & Split
413:Head Off & Split
150:Head Off & Split
1140:The Oxford American
933:The Kentucky Kernel
658:Poets & Writers
520:, W. Morrow, 1985,
467:Al Smith Fellowship
415:, was published by
336:Lexington, Kentucky
334:, was completed in
265:Black Arts Movement
148:for her collection
146:National Book Award
1191:Affrilachian Poets
1005:. December 9, 2014
564:The World is Round
493:The World Is Round
487:Claflin University
375:The World is Round
371:The World is Round
301:
245:Atlanta University
222:Sumter High School
75:Atlanta University
1094:Publishers Weekly
871:978-1-60473-274-0
779:Publishers Weekly
689:978-0-313-33197-8
622:978-0-8203-2926-0
598:978-0-8101-4201-5
585:978-0-8101-5216-8
572:978-0-9714890-4-2
556:978-0-8131-0910-7
539:978-0-920813-21-8
526:978-0-688-04796-2
456:Awards and honors
261:Toni Cade Bambara
247:, working in the
226:Talladega College
142:Talladega College
128:) is an American
122:Lynn Carol Finney
115:
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85:Talladega College
66:Poet and academic
41:Lynn Carol Finney
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957:Awards video
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877:November 21,
875:. Retrieved
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693:. Retrieved
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207:Newberry, SC
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200:Columbia, SC
177:Friendship 9
171:and retired
166:civil rights
159:
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118:Nikky Finney
117:
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23:Nikky Finney
1156:1957 births
342:received a
315:, in 1985.
237:Howard Zehr
214:integration
181:desegregate
1150:Categories
1041:August 23,
1036:1066069680
858:"Ambrosia"
631:References
402:Cave Canem
363:Humanities
63:Occupation
46:1957-08-26
841:The State
817:The State
604:As editor
546:Heartwood
352:Heartwood
156:Biography
71:Education
1009:July 13,
987:July 13,
960:Archived
905:Archived
833:Archived
808:Archived
320:Bay Area
169:attorney
1099:31 July
297:Tampere
277:Nairobi
257:Atlanta
105:Parents
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497:2011:
471:1999:
461:1999:
287:Career
120:(born
58:, U.S.
512:Works
381:, in
281:Kenya
228:, an
1101:2019
1043:2021
1032:OCLC
1011:2015
989:2015
879:2011
866:ISBN
697:2011
684:ISBN
617:ISBN
594:ISBN
581:ISBN
568:ISBN
551:ISBN
535:ISBN
531:Rice
522:ISBN
477:Rice
348:Rice
340:Rice
332:Rice
230:HBCU
130:poet
38:Born
365:at
346:.
1152::
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980:.
949:,
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