Memory
"Nikki-Rosa" is a reflection on how Giovanni herself experiences her memory of childhood. She states that "childhood remembrances are always a drag / if you're Black" due to the disconnect between how she recalls her childhood (as generally happy) and how the public portrays her childhood (as unhappy due to poverty). This tension lies at the heart of the poem, as Giovanni recounts various memories that were significant to her due to reasons other than money.
Family
Giovanni's family is a central component of "Nikki-Rosa." The love her family shared colors her memories and was more relevant to her as a child than the money problems they faced. Giovanni explains that "Black love is Black wealth," meaning that she got value as a child from the love around her. To her, this was better than money.
Racism
Racism manifests in multiple ways in "Nikki-Rosa." First, the way the public perceives the childhoods of Black people who grew up poor is racist in that it chooses to emphasize poverty while downplaying all other parts of the experience. As Giovanni writes, "they never talk about how happy you were to have / your mother / all to yourself." Racism also appears more and concretely in Giovanni's recollections of her childhood. For example, she recalls her father being rejected for a loan for the Hollydale development due to racism.
