Where poetry meets activism, Amanda Gorman is at the forefront. She is setting herself as an influential modern figure in one of the most talked-about moments of a historical presidential inauguration.

The first ‘Madam Vice President’ address. Crowds of flags replacing the public. No outgoing president present for the first time in more than a century. Gorman herself made history as the youngest Inaugural poet. Her moving words cut through the noise, securing her the first poetry spot at the Super Bowl. This also lead to her forthcoming books topping bestseller lists. She continues to steal the show with her hopeful unifying verses. These, along with her personal journey and activist vocation, is turning heads.

“The Hill We Climb” is a profoundly honest poem. A dedication to a politically divided country. A message to the broader world currently at the edge of the unknown. A world facing a virus whose disproportionate impact is not clearly defined but will be lived through for some time. There are too many highlights to quote from. Still, one of my favourite moments is in one of the last verses; a brisk but swift culmination to the poem.

“For there is always light if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it”.

The beauty of poetry and art is precisely that. The personal significant moments one takes. But it is also the clearness of the message. One thing that could collectively be appreciated was her acknowledgement to those who opened doors before us and the doors we can leave open to future generations.

She makes it clear that she is part of a legacy, a history of literary activism that has allowed poets and writers to express personal experiences and hopes and advocate for change.

History doesn’t necessarily repeat on a loop. It can progress into change.

“The past we step into and how we repair it.”

“We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president, only to find herself reciting for one.”

As she recited before a hopeful future, Gorman alluded to the past: to the writings of influential drivers of social change; former inaugural poet Maya Angelou and her civil rights activist colleague Martin Luther King; historic US presidents like Abraham Lincoln; even modern-day references to the musical Hamilton.

These are people at different historical times, all striving for equality.

Speaking to American broadcaster NPR, the poet recalled the “history of orators who have had to struggle, a […] voicelessness, […] having that stage in the inauguration.”

From the few prior inaugural poets, one of Gorman’s key influences is Maya Angelou. Gorman referenced the works of the critically-acclaimed civil rights activist poet through her poem and fashion. Concerning Angelou’s autobiography, I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings, Oprah Winfrey gifted Gorman a caged bird ring. The young poet also included imagery of ‘rising’ from the historic Still I Rise poem.

It is said that history repeats itself – Gorman’s hopes for gender and racial justice are Angelou’s. But Gorman’s transparency of the historical figures that inspire her puts things into perspective. She herself inspires as she draws inspiration from others. History doesn’t necessarily repeat on a loop, it can progress into change.

“A country better than the one we were left with.”

The positive response to Gorman’s poem is already inspiring conversations around the place of spoken word in the classroom. Once again, art and culture are a slither of hope. Despite this, the UK arts industry is one of the most severely affected by the pandemic. The widespread appreciation for the American poet asserts the importance of supporting young creatives: support for the arts is essential; support for underrepresented talent contributes to a country’s art scene.

For Amanda Gorman, youth programs served as steppingstones to wider public exposure. The 2014 programme from which Gorman started her poet laureate journey was a partnership of no less than six youth literary arts organisations. She won the title of LA Youth Poet Laureate then eventually earned the first National title in 2017. The title’s subsequent support from the government, through the First Lady at the time, Michelle Obama, undoubtedly elevated the opportunities for young aspiring poets. It led to the invitation to the 2017 inauguration of the 22nd US poet laureate, Tracy K Smith. In it, Gorman delivered her original poem, In This Place (An American Lyric), condemning recent deadly far-right Charlottesville demonstrations. Her political advocacy work was just starting, hence art initiatives like the Youth Poet Laureate should be valued and supported by governments.

Gorman herself has ended up involved in youth advocacy, founding a non-profit organisation, One Pen One Page, which promotes literacy and leadership through creative writing workshops. Gorman has also made her intentions to run for US presidency clear. Thus, an interest in politics and art makes up Amanda Gorman – poetry and activism is her way forward.

“Love becomes our legacy.”

Amanda Gorman’s awareness of the impact story-telling and poetry have on uplifting voices is evident. Faithful to the legacy of literary activists, she is making poetry accessible to new generations as well as leading it to new horizons. The future of poetry is fused with crucial influences of the past and Amanda Gorman will most likely be an influential figure showing where activism and poetry meet change thrives.

Nerea Zambrano

Featured image courtesy of Thought Catalog on Unsplash. Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.

Currently a second-year journalism student at the University of Leeds, interested in storytelling and documentaries. Some of my hobbies include photography, obsessing over the latest Netflix series and of course, writing!✨

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