Arts & Entertainment
White Plains Library Discusses: Who Is Amanda Gorman?
Perhaps, like me, you were awestruck during the inauguration on January 20.
January 21 2021
By Joshua, Manager of Youth Services
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Perhaps, like me, you were awestruck during the inauguration on January 20. Not just by the glass-ceiling shattering of Kamala Harris, the transfer of power and workings of democracy, the pomp and circumstance, the (mostly) excellent fashion, but primarily by the words of the young poet, Amanda Gorman.
A self-proclaimed “Wordsmith. Change-maker,” Amanda Gorman is the nation’s first Youth Poet Laureate and was awarded that title in 2017. Now, during the inauguration in 2021, at only 22 years old, she joined a small, select group of inaugural poets (only four Presidents have had inaugural poets): Miller Williams, Richard Blanco, Elizabeth Alexander, Robert Frost and Maya Angelou, whom I have seen many comparing Ms. Gorman to online.
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In addition to being a poet, Ms. Gorman is an ardent activist, feminist, and supporter of social justice and equality. Among her many accomplishments, she graduated cum laude from Harvard University, has written for The New York Times, has spoken at the Library of Congress and Lincoln Center, and is the founder and executive director of One Pen One Page, which provides free creative writing and leadership programs for underserved youth. She has two books being published in September 2021 (both of which reached #1 and #2 on Amazon's bestseller list the day after the inauguration despite it being months until they are published!) – a collection of poetry which will include the inaugural poem, “The Hill We Climb,” and a children’s book, Change Sings: A Youth Anthem illustrated by Loren Long, a book she says is “a children’s anthem to remind young readers that they have the power to shape the world.”
You can find Amanda Gorman online at her website, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Below find some articles and resources to learn more about who this brilliant young poet is.
“The Hill We Climb”
Amanda Gorman recites “The Hill We Climb” during the inauguration of President Joe Biden, 01/20/21
“The Hill We Climb” – inaugural poem by Amanda Gorman, 01/20/21, transcript from CNN
Amanda Gorman Performing Her Poetry
“Talking Gets Us There” – PBS Kids, 01/18/21
“The Miracle of Morning” – PBS NewsHour, 01/15/21
“RISE” – NowThis NEXT, 10/19/20
“Fury and Faith” – ABC News, 07/04/20
“The Miracle of the Morning” CBS This Morning, 04/17/20
“RISE” – Global Leadership Awards, 04/04/20
“Tribute to the Empire State Building with Jon Batiste” – CBS This Morning, 11/27/19
Amanda Gorman: An Evening of Poetry at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 07/22/19 – Ms. Gorman reads poetry and discusses her craft.
“Believer’s Hymn for the Republic” – CBS This Morning, 07/03/19
Sherrie SIlver and Amanda Gorman’s Dance/Poetry Performance Opening of Women in the World Summit, 04/10/19
“Earthrise” – 12/04/18
“The Republic Gives Thanks” – CBS This Morning, 11/22/18
“Making Mountains as we Run” – Harvard Inauguration of Lawrence S. Bacow, 10/05/18
“Roar” – Moth Boston GrandSLAM, 09/28/17
“In This Place: An American Lyric” – Library of Congress, 09/20/17
“The Gathering Place” – Social Good Summit, 09/19/17
2014 Inaugural LA Youth Poet Laureate: Amanda Gorman – Urban Word LA, 06/14/14
Resources, Articles and Interviews
Teaching Living Poets: Amanda Gorman Inauguration Poem Lessons
PBS NewsHour – Lesson Plan: Discuss 22-Year-Old Amanda Gorman’s Inaugural Poem, “The Hill We Climb”
TEDEd Student Talks – Amanda Gorman: “Using Your Voice is a Political Choice”
Prompt for the Planet – Amanda Gorman is asking young adults around the world to think of one element and speak in its voice through pictures and words.
826NYC quaranTEEN Voices – Writing What You are Most Afraid of with Amanda Gorman
Library of Congress National Youth Poet Laureate Celebration, 06/27/18
On Generation Empathy – her Harvard University Virtual Reality project
Interview with Amanda Gorman, CBS This Morning, 01/20/21
“‘History has its eyes on us.’ Poet Amanda Gorman Seeks Right Words for Inauguration”
“‘Not Broken But Simply Unfinished.’ Poet Amanda Gorman Calls for a Better America
CNN’s Anderson Cooper speaks with Amanda Gorman following the inauguration, 01/20/21
Inaugural Poet Amanda Gorman on Her Career-Defining Address and Paying Homage to Maya Angelou, Vouge interview, 01/20/21
Interview with Luthern Williams, Head Teacher of New Roads School, Ms. Gorman’s K-12 school in California, Sky News, 01/21/21
The Project for Women: Amanda Gorman interview
Poet Amanda Gorman, on Art and Activism, WBUR, 10/15/20
Amanda Gorman: The Youngest Inaugural Poet in History
Amanda Gorman: Meet the First African-American Youth Poet Laureate, TODAY Show, 02/09/18
Amanda Gorman, Youth Poet Laureate, has speech and auditory processing issues
Who is Amanda Gorman? How the Young Poet Became the Star of Inauguration Day
Meet Amanda Gorman, the U.S.’s Youngest Inaugural Poet
Poetry Foundation: Amanda Gorman bio
National Youth Poet Laureate program – learn about the first National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman, and more recent winners
This press release was produced by the White Plains Public Library. The views expressed are the author's own.
