Amanda Gorman, the 22-year-old national youth poet laureate, performed her poem "The Hill We Climb" at Joe Biden's inauguration on Wednesday.
The five-minute poem immediately earned praise from viewers,
with some claiming she stole the show.
Gorman's poem discussed the fragile state of the US during
the COVID-19 crisis and after the insurrection at the Capitol.
Gorman spoke with force, poise and clarity outside the U.S.
Capitol in front of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris,
former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama, among
others.
Biden’s inaugural team contacted Gorman late last month to
perform a poem about unity in the United States, according to The Associated
Press. She is now among inaugural poets including Maya Angelou, Robert Frost,
Miller Williams, Richard Blanco and Elizabeth Alexander.
Gorman's performance drew awe from both those present and
those watching virtually. Social media users quickly took note of the young
poet, praising her on Twitter.
"I have never been prouder to see another young woman
rise! Brava Brava, @TheAmandaGorman! Maya Angelou is cheering — and so am I,"
media mogul Oprah Winfrey tweeted. Ahead of the performance, Winfrey gave
Gorman earrings and a ring shaped like a caged bird, a tribute to Angelou's
"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," according to CBS News.
Gorman thanked Winfrey in a tweet of her own.
"Thank you! I would be nowhere without the women whose
footsteps I dance in," Gorman tweeted. "While reciting my poem, I
wore a ring with a caged bird—a gift from @Oprah for the occasion , to
symbolize Maya Angelou, a previous inaugural poet. Here’s to the women who have
climbed my hills before."
Thank you! I would be nowhere without the women whose footsteps I dance in. While reciting my poem, I wore a ring with a caged bird—a gift from @Oprah for the occasion , to symbolize Maya Angelou, a previous inaugural poet. Here’s to the women who have climbed my hills before. https://t.co/5Tegd20sko
— Amanda Gorman (@TheAmandaGorman) January 20, 2021
Gorman also drew praise from Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams
who tweeted, "Amanda Gorman’s message serves as an inspiration to us
all."
Amanda Gorman’s message serves as an inspiration to us all. #InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/7zkyDoFHaQ
— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) January 20, 2021
Gorman became the nation’s first youth poet laureate at 19,
while a sophomore at Harvard University. Before the inauguration, Gorman told
The New York Times that she wants the poem to inspire hope, without ignoring
the country’s history of racism and violence.
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