Amanda Gorman became the youngest poet to perform at a presidential inauguration and her poem, "The Hill We Climb" called for unity and togetherness
Clad in a dashing yellow coat and regal red headband both by Prada, young poet laureate, Amanda Gorman delivered a powerful poem recital at the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
The 22-year-old is the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate and the recital of her self-penned poem, The Hill We Climb captured the hearts of those watching in Washington DC and overseas.
Prior to her performance at the inauguration, Gorman's poems focused on the issues of oppression, feminism, race, marginalisation as well as the African diaspora.
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All eyes were on Gorman as she performed her five-minute poem, which called for unity and togetherness but also mixed in some pop-culture references including Hamilton. Gorman cites the speeches of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr and Winston Churchill as inspiration for the poem. Many including former First Lady, Michelle Obama praised The Hill We Climb for its strong and poignant words.
Gorman also inserted some anecdotes, describing herself as a "skinny Black girl / descended from slaves and raised by a single mother / can dream of becoming president / only to find herself reciting for one."
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