Analysis Of Ego Tripping By Nikki Giovanni

In Nikki Giovanni’s opinion she believes that women are often over looked by men because they have everything. Throughout history men have been given multiple opportunities to be successful compared to woman that had limited options. Giovanni understands that women’s strength is over shadowed by simple traits of a male. This is exactly why she felt the need to express African American woman worth through this poem. She wanted to give women something they could look forward to.

The word ego-tripping originated in 1967 meaning that something that someone does in order to feel important or better than other people. Giovanni wanted women in a sense to trip over their egos. She wanted women to see themselves in all their glory. She used this poem to show them the vastness they hold within themselves. In Nikki Giovanni’s “Ego Tripping” Giovanni sheds light upon the self -admiration that everyone should posses through historical references, beauty and power.

Throughout this entire poem Nikki Giovanni used multiple references to historical events about that beauty and power that lies within every African American woman. “I was born in the Congo” Giovanni opens the poem up with this line that stated where majority of African American women evolved from somewhere in Central Africa. “I walked to the Fertile Crescent and built the Sphinx.” Giovanni used this

quote to reference her superlative ability by referring to traveling to the Fertile Crescent as a recreational activity. Giovanni expresses that she built the Sphinx that allowed the reader to see the importance and strength that African American women possess throughout history.
In the next few lines she continues to say,” I designed a pyramid so tough that a star that only glows every one hundred years falls, into the center giving divine perfect light.” It is said that on the night of the autumn equinox the year that it was completed the pyramids tip lines directly up with the brightest star, Alycone.

She is expressing how extravagant her work is. No other woman could create such a pyramid that was so unique. African American woman have this uniqueness that no one else is blessed with. Giovanni use of imagery strengthens the reader’s view of the surreal world that she created in this

passage.
The power of beauty lies within. Giovanni wants the reader to see the value of pure beauty. Giovanni uses multiple metaphors to show that beauty is not only external but also lies within the woman. The beauty women possess comes from the strength they carry. Some women fail to realize that the strength and drive they have to accomplish things that no man ever had ever dreamt of gives off an attractiveness
Giovanni uses a reference to Nefertiti, whom is an Egyptian woman that was known for her beauty. Giovanni wants to show the eloquence, royalty, and “The hair from my head thinned and gold was laid across three continents.” The speaker head is draped in jewels
“So perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal.” Within this poem Giovanni uses a broad choice of diction that help express the theme of power, and helped magnify the “dreamy” mood that lies within the poem. For example, “soft summer day.” Giovanni wants the reader to imagine a surreal environment that is set to reveal the power and beauty that all lies within. In all respects of this poem Nikki Giovanni’s goal was to allow African American women to see their true worth and the value that they have on the world.
“I am bad.” This quote was used in the poem to show that she is aware of her worth she knows that she is important. Giovanni used this poem as a way to express to hidden strength and power that is possessed within. “I am a gazelle so swift.” This metaphor is used to emphasize the semblance of power the speaker possess. She compares herself to how fast and swift a gazelle is. She often uses objects that represent power rather than directly relating them to herself. “I turned myself into myself and was jesus.” The speaker is saying that she is not powerful in comparison to Jesus, but that she is so powerful that she is jesus.
Throughout this passage the author was on an “ego trip” but towards the end of the poem this attitude begins to fade away. “I mean…I…can fly, like the bird in the sky.” Through this simile the author reveals herself. She no longer uses historical references or metaphors that symbolize the power that she, an African American woman, holds within. At the end of the poem Giovanni finally uses herself as a comparison rather than comparing herself to a semblance of power.
In this poem Nikki Giovanni exhibits African American women strong gender roles through historical references, beauty, and strength. Throughout the passage Nikki Giovanni used multiple references to historical events about beauty and power that lies within every African American woman. This poem expressed the uniqueness that every African American woman possessed. Giovanni understood that women’s strength is often times over shadowed by simple traits of a male. This is exactly why she felt the need to express African American woman worth through this poem. She wanted to give women something they could look forward to and appreciate about themselves.
Nikki Giovanni wrote this poem using a comparison between ancestry and ancient civilization that contributed to today’s lifestyle. Overall Giovanni stressed that she is powerful, and anything she put her mind to she is able to accomplish. Giovanni’s goal in this passage was to broadcast the inner beauty and strength that she knows every African American woman possess.