Inside Amanda Gorman’s Inauguration performance
She has helped carry the torch of passion and truth, letting little Black boys and girls and the world know that anything is possible.

Amanda Gorman painting
Amanda Gorman made history as the first National Youth Poet Laureate. As we ushered in the 46th President of the United States on Jan. 20, there were many appearances that had everyone floored, including Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez, but the performance that no one can stop talking about is that of Amanda Gorman. The 22-year-old Harvard graduate read an original poem titled “The Hill We Climb.” As she read, Gorman called for unity, peace, and healing.
“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,” she read. Her performance at the inaugural celebration has been opening doors for her to say the least.
On Inauguration Day, she tweeted. “I AM ON THE FLOOR MY BOOKS ARE #1 AND #2 ON AMAZON AFTER 1 DAY!” Gorman has three works scheduled to be published and distributed this year. There are the printed copies of her Inauguration Day poem, her children’s book titled “Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem,” and a collection of poetry titled “The Hill We Climb and Other Poems.”
Gorman has also picked up a modeling career, an appearance as the first poet to perform at the Superbowl, and an animated short film with PBS. So, things are looking up for the young poet whose appearance at the Inauguration provided hope. She has helped carry the torch of passion and truth, letting little Black boys and girls and the world know that anything is possible. ~ℝ