Nikky Finney

Born Lynn Carol Finney, Nikky Finney was born in Conway, South Carolina on August 26,1957 to Ernest Finney Jr. and Frances Davenport Finney, both active in the Civil Rights movement, which shaped Nikky’s childhood. Nikky enjoyed books and poetry, and also wrote poetry as a child. She likely gained the nickname “Nikky” in reference to the poet Nikki Giovanni. She was first in catholic grade school, then went to South Carolina Grade school. She continued on to graduate from Sumter High School in 1975, the matriculated at Talladega College, where she was mentored by Dr. Gloria Wade Gayles and studies with Dr. Howard Zehr and graduated in 1979. Finney started he career as a photographer and committed to documenting the trajectory of African American contributions to American creativity and culture and she continued this in Alabama. Finney also matriculated at Atlanta University, working in the African American Studies department under historians such as Dr. Richard Long and Dr. David Dorsey.