Amanda Gorman captivated everyone back in 2021 when she did her thing with “The Hill We Climb” at President Joe Biden’s big day.
She replicated same this time at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, singing a fresh poem called “This Sacred Scene.”
She was all dressed up in a pale blue outfit, hair all braided up, looking super cool.
The crowd couldn’t take their eyes off her as she spoke for just a bit, spreading the message of togetherness and understanding in our quest for the good ol’ “American dream.”
“Maybe this dream isn’t a solo one but a challenge to dream as one,” she shared. “If we can’t unite, we won’t last.”
Here’s what to know about Gorman:
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Who is Amanda Gorman?
Gorman, who’s 26, wears many hats – poet, activist, and writer – all the way from sunny Los Angeles, California.
Back in 2017, she made history as the first National Youth Poet Laureate. She put in work with youth programs to spread the love for reading and writing in communities that needed it most. Her bio on the National Youth Poet Laureate website spills the beans on all this good stuff. Plus, she’s the brains behind One Pen One Page, a group that helps kids get into writing and reading.
After wrapping up at Harvard in 2020, she landed the gig of reading “The Hill We Climb” at Biden’s big day in 2021. And get this – she even dropped a poem at the 2021 Super Bowl, being the first to ever do that.
What did Amanda Gorman speak about?
Gorman performed a new poem titled “This Sacred Scene.”
“I was trying to sit a while with what the Democratic Convention means, and more specifically, more importantly, what it means for people to gather together around shared values and principles,” Gorman said of her writing process in an interview with Vanity Fair.
“I think there’s something hallowed about that. I think there’s something special and also old about that that digs to the roots of who we are as human beings. I wanted to speak to that importance of unity which, for me, transcends party.”
The theme for the night was “Fight for our Freedoms,” and speakers addressed the topics of reproductive health and abortion access.
What else did Amanda Gorman write?
There’s a special edition of Gorman’s inauguration poem “The Hill We Climb,” complete with a foreword by Oprah Winfrey.
And if that’s not enough, she’s got a whole collection of poems by the same name up for grabs, too.
Gorman’s been busy in the children’s book world, too. “Change Sings” kicks off her three-book deal with Viking Books for Young Readers, following a young girl on a musical journey of making positive changes.
Then there’s “Something, Someday,” her second children’s book, illustrated by Christian Robinson, which spreads a message of hope and ambition.
And drumroll, please! Her freshest release is “Call Us What We Carry,” a poetry collection diving into history, language, identity, and more through a creative and personal lens.
Olekanma Favour is a resourceful, self-motivated, and result-driven writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and insightful content. She loves tackling complex topics and weaving engaging stories.
When she’s not writing, Olekanma enjoys immersing herself in a good book, exploring new cuisines, and discovering new cultures.