Amanda Gorman has made history as the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history.
The 22-year-old poet and activist from Los Angeles was chosen by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to deliver her powerful original poem, “The Hill We Climb.”
A portion of the poem reads:
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.
In this truth, in this faith, we trust.
For while we have our eyes on the future,
history has its eyes on us.
Watch below as Amanda delivers her powerful poem:
Amanda Gorman is Black excellence.
She’s overcome a speech impediment. The beautiful and eloquent speaker told the Los Angeles Times:
For me, there was this other echelon of pressure, which is: Can I say that which needs to be said?
In 2014, Gorman was named the first Youth Poet Laureate of Los Angeles and three years later she became the country’s first National Youth Poet Laureate.
Oh, and one more thing…she’s releasing a children’s book this September titled, “Change Sings.”
In a post on her Instagram page, Amanda shared:
Finally get to share the cover of my first children’s book!! I wrote “Change Sings” as a children’s anthem to remind young readers that they have the power to shape the world. The poem is illustrated by the incredible @thelorenlong , the artist behind Barack Obama’s children’s book Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to my Daughters, and I could not be more humbled by the beauty he brought to my words. It will be released by @vikingbooks @penguinrandomhouse this September.
See the original post below:
Click here to pre-order your copy of “Change Sings.”
Congratulations to this history-making young queen!
