Would you describe "Nikki-Rosa" as an ironic poem?

The poem “Nikki-Rosa” is a fine example of situational irony. Situation irony is all about the incongruity between what is expected or believed to be true or going to happen and the reality of what happens.

According to the poet Nikki Giovanni, the white community and the white biographers can never understand that even the childhood of black people could be glorious and full of joy and happiness. The white community’s perception of blacks’ childhood as a “drag” is merely based on appearances and face values. The poet, however, claims that although she is a black woman, “all the while I was quite happy.”

“childhood remembrances are always a drag” – the ironical opening line of the poem reflects the white people’s assumption of a black person’s childhood. To them, the childhood of a black boy or girl is doomed because of poverty.

"Living in Woodlawn/with no inside toilet,” bathing in “big tubs that folk in chicago barbecue in,” a black man’s selling “his stock” and “your father’s drinking” point to a few of those visible aspects of the lives of black people upon which the white biographers base their assumptions that the black children are deprived of any kind of happiness, joy or fun.

But the irony of the situation lies in the fact that material wealth doesn't even seem to bother the poet at all. She says, “though you’re poor it isn't poverty that/concerns you.” On the other hand, a white biographer’s interpretation of blacks’ emotional experience is entirely based on their state of poverty.

The poet has plenty of reasons to laud her childhood days.

“everybody is together and you

and your sister have happy birthdays and very good  

Christmases”

And,

“the whole family attended meetings about Hollydale...”

The poet has known the joy of being together with her family and her black community. She has experienced the delight of sharing each other’s love and sorrow at different times. All these have offered her so much happiness and satisfaction that she claims, “all the while I was quite happy.”

Thus, the thread of situational irony weaves through the whole poem. What’s perceived by the white community of the childhood of a black person stands in stark contrast to the joyous and ecstatic experience of a black person.

While the poet says, "all the while I was quite happy," the white biographer would “never understand/Black love is Black wealth.”