Amanda Gorman’s Inaugural Poem and The Effect on America
By Margaret Coleman
By Margaret Coleman
On January 20, 2020, Kamala Harris became the first Black, Asian American, and woman vice president of the United States. It may seem impossible to sum up this momentous occasion, but somehow Amanda Gorman did. In her poem The Hill We Climb, the 22 year old poet talks about injustice, change, and how to understand the abnormal. However, this isn’t the first time the young poet has held the spotlight. In 2017 she became the first ever Youth Poet Laureate, getting internationally famous for her remarkable achievement. She also spoke at her Harvard graduation ceremony, gathering the attention of many.
Despite her many previous accomplishments, most people remember her for ground-breaking inauguration poem. Her words touched the hearts of many, motivating change, and empowering new voices. She got congratulated by many other change-makers. Oprah Winfrey gave her a replica of the famous ring worn by Maya Angelou, illustrious civil rights activist and poet, and former President Barack Obama tweeted, “on a day for the history books, @TheAmandaGorman delivered a poem that more than met the moment. Young people like her are proof that ‘there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it; if only we're brave enough to be it.’” However, the list doesn’t end there; Malala Yousafzai, Stacey Abrams, and Hillary Clinton are among the congratulators. Lin Manuel Miranda was also blown away, recognizing the Hamilton references interspersed with the poem.
But you don’t have to be a celebrity to appreciate Gorman’s work. It touched everyone, young and old, and will be remembered in history forever.
Photo: https://www.theamandagorman.com/
https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/a35275949/amanda-gorman-inaugural-poem-reaction/
Despite her many previous accomplishments, most people remember her for ground-breaking inauguration poem. Her words touched the hearts of many, motivating change, and empowering new voices. She got congratulated by many other change-makers. Oprah Winfrey gave her a replica of the famous ring worn by Maya Angelou, illustrious civil rights activist and poet, and former President Barack Obama tweeted, “on a day for the history books, @TheAmandaGorman delivered a poem that more than met the moment. Young people like her are proof that ‘there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it; if only we're brave enough to be it.’” However, the list doesn’t end there; Malala Yousafzai, Stacey Abrams, and Hillary Clinton are among the congratulators. Lin Manuel Miranda was also blown away, recognizing the Hamilton references interspersed with the poem.
But you don’t have to be a celebrity to appreciate Gorman’s work. It touched everyone, young and old, and will be remembered in history forever.
Photo: https://www.theamandagorman.com/
https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/a35275949/amanda-gorman-inaugural-poem-reaction/