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Who Is Amanda Gorman?
Amanda Gorman made history in 2017 when she was appointed the first National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States. In 2021, she captivated audiences at the presidential inauguration, becoming the youngest poet to compose and perform a poem at such an event. Her powerful recitation of “The Hill We Climb” resonated with themes of painful history and a hopeful future. Gorman’s achievements continued with a performance at the Super Bowl in 2021, co-hosting the Met Gala, and being recognized as an Estée Lauder Global Changemaker. Beyond her poetic endeavors, she is a committed activist advocating for climate issues, equality, and education. Gorman has expressed aspirations for a presidential run, planning to enter the race in 2036, the first election cycle in which she will be eligible. Before each performance, she recites a personal mantra: “I’m the daughter of Black writers who are descended from Freedom Fighters who broke their chains and changed the world. They call me.”
Early Life
Amanda Gorman was born on March 7, 1998, in Los Angeles, California, to Joan Wicks. She and her twin sister, Gabrielle, were born prematurely. Growing up with a speech impediment and diagnosed with an auditory processing disorder in kindergarten, Gorman faced challenges with pronunciation, particularly of the letter “r,” until she was around 20 years old. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Gorman shared, “I was born early, along with my twin, and a lot of times, for infants, that can lead to learning delays.”
Gorman engaged in speech therapy and utilized the Hamilton soundtrack as a tool to improve her pronunciation, stating, “I would listen to the track of ‘Aaron Burr, Sir,’ and try to do it over and over and over again.” While her challenges presented obstacles, Gorman viewed them as opportunities for growth: “I think it made me all that much stronger of a writer when you have to teach yourself how to say words from scratch.”
Education
Raised in West Los Angeles, Gorman attended the progressive private school New Roads in Santa Monica. Her mother, a middle-school English teacher in Watts, instilled in her an awareness of educational disparities. At 16, Gorman served as a youth delegate for the United Nations. She later attended Harvard University, majoring in sociology and graduating cum laude in 2020, albeit remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Writing and Poetry
Gorman’s passion for writing blossomed at an early age. By the age of five, she was waking her mother for paper to express her thoughts. A pivotal moment came when she heard Ray Bradbury’s poem “Dandelion Wine” in third grade. In 2021, she remarked, “I actually started writing poetry before I started reading it, mostly because at the time poetry wasn’t something that was taught robustly in my classrooms.”
Her interest in poetry deepened through works by Sonia Sanchez and the anthology Angles of Ascent: A Norton Anthology of African American Poetry. Gorman developed her writing skills under the mentorship of the nonprofit organization WriteGirl and performed at various platforms, including WriteGirl, The Moth, and Urban Word. At 16, she was named L.A. Youth Poet Laureate and became the inaugural National Youth Poet Laureate in 2017.
Gorman founded the organization One Pen One Page to promote youth literacy and creativity. Her literary contributions include The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough (2015), The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country (2021), and Call Us What We Carry (2021), which reflects on the experiences of living through the Covid-19 pandemic, informed by research on historical events like the 1918 flu pandemic.
Additionally, she authored the children’s book Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem (2021), described as a “poetic rallying cry for kids who want to make a difference.” Gorman has expressed a longstanding interest in novel writing, noting, “Novel writing was my original love, and I still hope to do it. I just typically can finish writing a single poem faster than I can an entire narrative book!”
Inaugural Poem: “The Hill We Climb”
Dr. Jill Biden, having witnessed Amanda Gorman’s captivating performances, recommended that she compose a poem for the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Consequently, in late December 2020, the Biden Inaugural Committee formally invited Gorman to present her work at the inauguration.
In preparation, Gorman immersed herself in the speeches of historical figures such as Frederick Douglass, Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King Jr. Additionally, she studied the works of previous inaugural poets, including her longtime inspiration Maya Angelou and Elizabeth Alexander.
Following the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol, Gorman enriched her poem with new lines. She articulated her intent to the Los Angeles Times, stating, “I crafted an inaugural poem that recognizes these scars and these wounds. Hopefully, it will move us toward healing them.”
On January 20, 2021, Gorman captured attention in a striking yellow coat—her signature color—complemented by a red Prada headband. She also adorned herself with a caged-bird ring, a meaningful gift from Oprah Winfrey in homage to Angelou. Gorman’s poignant recitation of “The Hill We Climb” mesmerized the inauguration audience and viewers around the world.
Career
Before her historic performance in 2021, Gorman had showcased her poetry at esteemed venues such as the Obama White House, the Library of Congress, and Lincoln Center. However, her unforgettable presence at the Biden-Harris inauguration catapulted her to new heights of fame.
Following the inauguration, Gorman recited her poem “Chorus of the Captains” at the 2021 Super Bowl. This engagement was planned prior to her breakthrough moment, but since then, she has received numerous opportunities. Gorman remarked to Vogue, “I have to be conscious of taking commissions that speak to me.” She is fortunate to have mentors, including Winfrey, who has offered guidance since their encounter on John Krasinski’s YouTube show Some Good News in May 2020.
Gorman has signed with IMG Models, graced the cover of Vogue, and secured a three-year partnership with Estée Lauder as its first Global Changemaker. In this capacity, she will feature in advertising campaigns while curating grants to promote literacy among women and girls.
Additionally, Gorman co-hosted the 2021 Met Gala alongside Timothée Chalamet, Billie Eilish, and Naomi Osaka, wearing an outfit inspired by the Statue of Liberty.
At the close of 2021, Gorman’s poem “A New Day’s Lyric” was released on Instagram’s official account to usher in the new year of 2022. This initiative aimed to generate funds for the International Rescue Committee, with Instagram contributing $50,000 to the cause.