Analysis Of Ego-Tripping By Nikki Giovanni

Do you know what what a woman has in common with Africa? Nikki Giovanni explains it best “ I am a beautiful woman… I cannot be comprehended except by my permission.” Ego- Tripping subtitled (there may be a reason why) is a poem written by Nikki Giovanni and published in 1972. Yolande Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni, Jr was born on June 7th, 1943 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Ego- Tripping is a declaration of pride of Africa as a material source as well as a cultural source. The poem prompts her readers of the abundance of what the continent, Africa, contributed to ancient history and civilization as a whole. She uses different literary devices such as metaphors, diction, imagery, and similes to convey her message across to the reader. Also, analyzing the structure of the Ego- Tripping, first person is used to add a personal feel to the poem, proper nouns are lower case instead of capitalized, and a free verse rhyme scheme is used. Nikki Giovanni first trip to Africa

was in 1972, which was the same time she wrote the poem. There was the civil rights movement going on in America during the time she wrote the poem also, and the African Americans were fighting for justice and equality in America.
Moreover the Chosen theme of the poem is the importance of women, and more specifically mothers.

The importance of women is the chosen theme because without women civilization would not exist. Africa is known as “ The Motherland” because of the resources and how much people take from it culturally. Likewise, Pride is of essence because people must have pride in self showing appreciation of where they are from. Hence, by doing that the offspring they produce will be significant. In addition, Beauty is essential because society must be comfortable and love the skin that they are in, it is not just outward, beauty is inward because they embrace their ancestry “ I am a beautiful woman. ” Finally, Power is the last piece that connects the importance of women and Africa because behind every Great man is a powerful woman. Furthermore, women are the cornerstone of any civilization. Nikki Giovanni’s Ego- Tripping thematically illustrates the importance of women through its examination of pride, beauty, and

power.
Firstly, Pride is defined by sources as “a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired, ” Pride is incorporated into the poem by showing the great power that Africa has and how it contributes to other continents.Also the pride that a woman has in her children because mothers know the pain and suffering of bringing children into this world. For instance, according to Nikki Giovanni in stanzas 1, 2 and 5 of Ego- Tripping, she states ”I was born in the Congo. My oldest daughter is Nerfertiti The tears from my birth pains created the Nile, My son Noah built New/Ark and I stood proudly at the helm.”
Nikki is speaking as The Goddess mother of those powerful figures showing her pride in her child as they accomplish great feats. The pride that she shows is in appreciation of their child and the confidence that she has in them vividly with Noah and the “ New/ Ark” and where she stated ”I was born in the Congo”. In addition, in the article “Ego- Tripping” it states that “The poem makes an important point about pride that it is important to be proud of both heritage and accomplishments. Pride is not misplaced no matter how big or small the accomplishment. The speakers pride can serve as a model for women young readers that they can accomplish much, if they have faith and strength in their own power”
Secondly, In the same way that pride is illustrated in the poem beauty is essential as well. Beauty is key because the poem refers to beauty on different occasions. Being beautiful, isn't a state of appearance rather a state of mind, and being beautiful in their mind gives them self confidence towards their worth. According to stanza 6 of Ego- Tripping by Nikki Giovanni “I sowed diamonds in my back yard My bowels deliver uranium the filings from my fingernails are semi-precious jewels On a trip north I caught a cold and blew my nose giving oil to the Arab world I am so hip - even my errors are correct” Hence the more people value themselves the more they are worth. For example Africa is worth a lot because of the value it has in itself, such as uranium, gold, silver, and diamonds.
The more that is invested in a person more will come out of them. By Africa is the motherland the Goddess that is narrating the poem is beautiful and confident.For example, in stanza 2 she says “I am a beautiful woman” also in the first stanza she says “ I am Bad”. That suggests that calling oneself bad requires confidence in beauty and worth. In addition, throughout the poem the Goddess appears conceited by the amount of things centered around her also because of highly she thinks of herself. For instance, in the last stanza she says “I am so perfect, so divine, so ethereal, so surreal I cannot be comprehended except by my permission I mean I can fly like a bird in the sky.” This interpretation infers that she is so high that she is like a bird in the sky because no one is near her level. The level of confidence of beauty that she has is above every human in the world. The the only way she can be understood is by her permission to come down. Similar to a bird coming down from the sky to land so that people who want to know about the bird can finally get a chance to study it.
Finally the power of the women finishes the circle or importance of women with pride and beauty. Throughout the poem the narrator was referring to herself as a supernatural being that is affiliated with the likes of Allah and Jesus. But that is just one point of the power of women portrayed. The real focus is that behind every great man is a greater woman. Subsequently, that scheme was played throughout the entirety of the poem. Men such as Jesus, Noah, and Hannibal are featured. Jesus, The Son of God, mother was a pure woman who was a virgin and she birthed him through a spiritual command. She was specifically chosen by God to carry his son who would eventually save all of mankind. According to stanza 4 of Ego- Tripping ” I turned myself into myself - and was Jesus men intone my loving name All praises all praises I am the one who would save” She was used as a vessel so that Jesus can shine through her. Similarly Noah was chosen specifically by God to repopulate the earth and save certain animals after God wiped it clean of sin and uncleanliness. Noah mother was referenced because she was a powerful woman who was behind the powerful man whom fulfilled God's command. According to Nikki Giovanni in stanza 4 of Ego- Tripping “My son Noah built new/ark and I stood proudly at the helm as we sailed on a soft summer day.”
The power of the women also correlates with the power of Africa and how it impacts many nations till this day, For example, countries such as America would be nothing without Africa's children which were enslaved for many years. Also in the poem she speaks as if she is on the same level as Jesus or Allah, whom which are divine beings who no one can equal to. She states that she “ sat on the throne, drinking nectar with Allah” That is a metaphor of the women's power and influence through civilizations. Nefertiti is the Goddess oldest daughter who birth made the Nile river. The Nile river runs through Egypt considering Egypt is where Nefertiti reigned during her time of prominence. Giovanni used many examples of women power and strength throughout the poem.
In Conclusion, Nikki Giovanni Ego-Tripping, she talks about African beauty, strength, pride, and power. Her incorporation of these elements makes the poem unique and special. Africa has contributed to ancient and modern civilization, she makes that known by the message of cultural and resourceful usage of Africa from other continents.Also during the time that the poem was created blacks were given a bad image due to drugs, violence, and other factors. “Ego- Tripping” pours out information about the black heritage so that people who were discouraged could be comforted that it is ok to be black and proud. She also illustrates the power and beauty that the black women holds as well as confirm that it's ok to be proud of the ancestors that they come from. Throughout Nikki Giovanni’s career, she targeted black people and especially women to empower them. She now goes around reading and reciting her poems at different events, as well as speaking.
Subsequently, The central theme of the poem was the importance of women. Women literally make the world go round and Giovanni displayed that through her portrayal of significant imagery. The pride that women have surmounted their prior situation because of their faith and appreciation. Pride that a woman must have correlated with self confidence as well as beauty. Hence beauty was another focus in Nikki Giovanni’s poem Ego- Tripping. The metaphor woman and Africa are used through the piece because both women and Africa were intertwined, they both are beautiful, and a woman.