In a year already filled with record breaking stories, Amanda Gorman hits the headlines with her inaugural poem “The Hill We Climb”. At Joe Biden’s inauguration this past Wednesday, Gorman “became the youngest poet to write and recite a piece at a presidential inauguration, following in the considerably more experienced footsteps of Maya Angelou and Robert Frost” (LAtimes.com). Gorman also “became the youth poet laureate of Los Angeles at age 16 in 2014 and the first national youth poet laureate three years later”. Her poem, written weeks before Biden’s inauguration, has been forged from Gorman’s experiences through the Covid-19 pandemic and siege of the US Capitol. “The Hill We Climb” speaks to the importance of unity and growth as the country battles its way to closing the divide between left and right wingers as well as separation because of quarantine. “And yes we are far from polished. Far from pristine. But that doesn’t mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect. We are striving to forge a union with purpose, to compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man” Gorman says, referencing the recent Black Lives Matter protests and divides between the far reaches of mixed culture in the US. Through her poem, a message of unconditional love despite the worse-for-wear state the US is in speaks to the heart of every listener. 

Gorman says she drew her confidence and inspiration from previous inaugural poets. She “was wearing a ring with a caged bird, which was symbolic of Maya Angelou, who wrote “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” and recited a poem at President Bill Clinton’s first inauguration” (CNN). Despite walking in the much larger footsteps of poets like Angelou, Gorman has proved herself to be an incredibly skilled and mesmerizing speaker through her poem this past Wednesday. She has touched the hearts of many in the country, spoke to the experiences of black culture in America, and lifted the country’s spirit as we take steps towards unity and acceptance for all.