Amanda Gorman is a Force to be Reckoned With
- Rowan Conklin
- Feb 13, 2021
- 2 min read
Amanda Gorman delivered a propulsive verse at the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris last month. Donning a statement yellow Prada coat, she became the youngest poet ever to address the inaugural audience at only 20 years old. Only two weeks prior, a predominantly white mob had violently attacked the capitol steps upon which she stood, incited by then President Donald Trump.
Emerging evidence from the impeachment trial that opened this week illustrates how the former President spent the weeks after the election propagating a false narrative about a stolen election, and encouraging his supporters to do something about it, even until the riot broke out. The hearings introduced never-before-seen and quite jarring footage that illustrates just how close the violent mob came to directly confronting the leaders of our federal government, who they had declared “traitors,” and whom some of the mob wished to kill.
Only two weeks later, Amanda Gorman took the inaugural stage to present her poem “The Hill We Climb”–a piece that advocated for hope in the face of lethal resistance. Gorman told the New York Times that the riots inspired the final lines of the poem she was to share, weeks later, at the same location of five murders. The lines she referred to are as follows:
“We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it, would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. And this effort very nearly succeeded. But while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated”.
Surely when Gorman was tapped by Dr. Jill Biden to write for her husband's inauguration ceremony she had no inclination that she was being assigned the colossal responsibility of reflecting upon a murderous coup attempt, but nonetheless, her poem was the feeling, tone and spirit I needed to come to terms with what had happened on January 6th. To me, her reading served as the re-purification of the violated capitol steps. Her words were cognisant and her gestures dynamic, as she articulated a biblical and democratic vision of inclusion and justice for Biden’s presidential term.
Before the Inauguration Day’s end, the world was captivated. Gorman rapidly assumed the status of a best-selling author and shelved it alongside her Youth Poet Laureate award. In the weeks that followed, she discussed art and optimism with none other than Michelle Obama for the cover of Times Magazine. She brought her healing poetry to an unexpected place when she recited an ode to the educator, health care worker and firefighter named honorary captains, to open Super Bowl LV. Earlier this month she signed a modeling contract with IMG, where she will hopefully continue to share her regal dress and love for embroidery with the women of the world.
It seems the inauguration only marked the first in a series of stunning accomplishments for the young Amanda Gorman. Her star power knows no limits -- I would not be surprised to watch her own inauguration someday.
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