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Amanda Gorman
Gorman in 2017
Born1998 (age 25–26)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
EducationBA Harvard University (2020)
Occupations
  • Poet
  • activist
Agents
  • IMG Models (fashion & beauty)
  • Writers House (literary)
  • Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown and Passman (legal)
Notable work"The Hill We Climb"
Height5 ft 1 in (1.549 m)[a][1]
Cummings2020/sandbox
National Youth Poet Laureate
In office
April 2017 – April 2018
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPatricia Frazier
Los Angeles Youth Poet Laureate
In office
2014–2015
Preceded byInaugural holder

Amanda S. C. Gorman[2] (born 1998) is an American poet and activist. Her work focuses on issues of oppression, feminism, race, and marginalization, as well as the African diaspora. Gorman was the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate. She published the poetry book The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough in 2015. In 2021, she delivered her poem "The Hill We Climb" at the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden. Her inauguration poem generated international acclaim, stimulated her two books to reach best-seller status, and earned her a professional management contract.

Early life and education

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Gorman was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1998.[3][4] She was raised by her single mother, Joan Wicks, a 6th-grade English teacher in Watts,[5][6] with her two siblings.[3][7][8][9] She has a twin sister, Gabrielle, who is an activist[9][10] and filmmaker.[11][12] Gorman has said she grew up in an environment with limited television access.[13] She has described her young self as a "weird child" who enjoyed reading and writing and was encouraged by her mother.[3]

Gorman has an auditory processing disorder and is hypersensitive to sound.[3] She also had a speech impediment during childhood.[14][15] Gorman participated in speech therapy during her childhood and Elida Kocharian of The Harvard Crimson wrote in 2018, "Gorman doesn't view her speech impediment as a crutch—rather, she sees it as a gift and a strength."[1] Gorman told The Harvard Gazette in 2018, "I always saw it as a strength because since I was experiencing these obstacles in terms of my auditory and vocal skills, I became really good at reading and writing. I realized that at a young age when I was reciting the Marianne Deborah Williamson quote that 'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure' to my mom."[2]

Gorman attended New Roads, a private school in Santa Monica, for grades K–12.[16] As a senior, she received a Milken Family Foundation college scholarship.[17] She studied sociology at Harvard College,[18] graduating cum laude in 2020[19][20] as a member of Phi Beta Kappa.[21][22]

Career

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2014-15

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Gorman's art and activism focus on issues of oppression, feminism, race, and marginalization, as well as the African diaspora.[23][24] She has said she was inspired to become a youth delegate for the United Nations in 2013 after watching a speech by Pakistani Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.[25] Gorman was chosen as the youth poet laureate of Los Angeles in 2014.[26] In 2014 it was reported that Gorman was "editing the first draft of a novel the 16‑year‑old has been writing over the last two years."[27] She published the poetry book The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough in 2015.[28]

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith, and Gorman in 2017

2016-20

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In 2016, Gorman founded the nonprofit organization One Pen One Page, a youth writing and leadership program.[29][30] In 2017, she became the first author to be featured on XQ Institute's Book of the Month, a monthly giveaway to share inspiring Gen Z's favorite books. She wrote a tribute for black athletes for Nike[31] and has a book deal with Viking Children's Books to write two children's picture books.[32][33]

In 2017, Gorman became the first youth poet to open the literary season for the Library of Congress, and she has read her poetry on MTV.[13][34] She wrote "In This Place: An American Lyric" for her September 2017 performance at the Library of Congress, which commemorated the inauguration of Tracy K. Smith as Poet Laureate of the United States.[1] The Morgan Library and Museum acquired her poem "In This Place (An American Lyric)" and displayed it in 2018 near works by Elizabeth Bishop.[13]

While at Harvard, Gorman became the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate in April 2017.[3][23][34] She was chosen from five finalists.[35] In 2017, Gorman won a $10,000 grant from media company OZY in the annual OZY Genius Awards through which 10 college students are given "the opportunity to pursue their outstanding ideas and envisioned innovations".[36]

In 2017, Gorman said she intends to run for president in 2036,[37][38][39] and she has subsequently often repeated this hope.[40] On being selected as one of Glamour magazine's 2018 "College Women of the Year", she said: "Seeing the ways that I as a young black woman can inspire people is something I want to continue in politics. I don’t want to just speak works; I want to turn them into realities and actions."[41] After she read her poem "The Hill We Climb" at President Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021, Hillary Clinton tweeted her support for Gorman's 2036 aspiration.[42]

In 2019, Gorman was chosen as one of The Root magazine's "Young Futurists", an annual list of "the 25 best and brightest young African-Americans who excel in the fields of social justice and activism, arts and culture, enterprise and corporate innovation, science and technology, and green innovation".[43]

Gorman reading "The Hill We Climb" at the inauguration of Joe Biden in 2021.

In May 2020, Gorman appeared in an episode of the web series Some Good News hosted by John Krasinski, where she had the opportunity to virtually meet Oprah Winfrey and issued a virtual commencement speech to those who could not attend commencements due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S.[44]

In 2020, Gorman presented "Earthrise", a poem focused on the climate crisis.[45][46]

2021 and inauguration poem

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Gorman read her poem "The Hill We Climb" at the inauguration of Joe Biden on January 20, 2021, and is the youngest poet to read at a presidential inauguration in United States history.[47][48][49] Jill Biden recommended her for the inauguration.[50][51] After January 6, 2021, Gorman amended her poem's wording to address the storming of the United States Capitol.[52] During the week before the inauguration, she told Washington Post book critic Ron Charles, "My hope is that my poem will represent a moment of unity for our country" and "with my words, I'll be able to speak to a new chapter and era for our nation."[53] Andrea Gabor, commented in Bloomberg Opinion that Gorman's poem was uplifting for a country weary of COVID-19 and reeling from the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.[54]

A month later, she became the first poet to perform at a Super Bowl, on February 7, 2021. She recited her poem, "Chorus of the Captains," in recognition of three honorary coin toss captains who'd helped their communities during the pandemic. [55]

Soon after Gorman's performance at the inauguration, her two upcoming books, the poetry collection The Hill We Climb and a project for youth, Change Sings: A Children's Anthem, were at the top of Amazon's bestseller list.[56] Both are scheduled to be released in September 2021.[56] A book version of the poem "The Hill We Climb" is scheduled to be released on March 16, 2021, with a foreword by Oprah Winfrey, and each of Gorman's three upcoming books will have first printings of one million copies.[57]

IMG Models and its parent company WME signed Gorman for representation in fashion, beauty, and talent endorsements.[58] She is represented in the publishing industry by Writers House and by the Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown and Passman law firm.[59]

Gorman was commissioned to compose an original poem to be recited at Super Bowl LV's pregame ceremony, to be held on February 7, 2021, as an introduction to the three honorary captains who would preside over the coin-toss.[60]

Personal life

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Gorman is a Black Catholic, a member of St. Brigid Church in her hometown of Los Angeles.[61] On the day after the Biden inaugural, she appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden, where she revealed that Corden was "[her] favorite human being ever created."[62] Michael Cirelli, executive director of Urban Word NYC, described her as a "powerhouse" and has joked that "[Gorman's] bio goes out of date every two weeks."[1] In 2014 it was reported that she "aspires to be a human rights advocate."[27]

Honors and recognition

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  • 2014: Chosen as youth poet laureate of Los Angeles
  • 2017: Chosen as National Youth Poet Laureate
  • 2017: OZY Genius Award
  • 2018: Named one of Glamour magazine's College Women of the Year
  • 2019: Named on The Root's "Young Futurists" list
  • 2021: Selected to read at the inauguration of Joe Biden, becoming the youngest poet ever to read at a US presidential inauguration

Bibliography

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Books

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  • The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough. Urban Word LA. 2015. p. 60. ISBN 978-0-9900122-9-0.
  • Taylor, Keren, ed. (2013). "Candy Cane"; "Poetry Is". You are here : the WriteGirl journey. Los Angeles: WriteGirl Publications. pp. 210, 281. ISBN 978-0-98370812-4. OCLC 868918187.
  • The Hill We Climb: Poems. Viking Books for Young Readers. 2021. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-593-46506-6. OCLC 1232185776.
  • The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country. Viking Books for Young Readers. 2021. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-593-46527-1. OCLC 1232234825.
  • Change Sings: A Children's Anthem. Viking Books for Young Readers. 2021. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-593-20322-4. OCLC 1232149089.

Audiobooks

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Articles

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Notes

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  1. ^ "She’s five-foot-one, afro included..."

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Kocharian, Elida (February 1, 2018). "American Lyricist". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Walsh, Colleen (October 4, 2018). "The poetic perspective". The Harvard Gazette. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e Hassan, Adeel (February 28, 2018). "A Young Poet's Inspiration". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 28, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; April 30, 2018 suggested (help)
  4. ^ Coke, Hope (January 21, 2021). "Meet Amanda Gorman: The gifted young poet who shot to fame after her starring role in Biden's inauguration". Tatler. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  5. ^ "6th Grade Humanities – Dr. Joan Wicks – Alliance Jack H. Skirball Middle School". www.skirballmiddle.org. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  6. ^ Ballard, Elise (January 27, 2021). "Amanda Gorman Was Mentored by a "Positive Community of Women Writers" Before Her Inaugural Moment". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  7. ^ Engelmayer, Caroline S. (September 18, 2017). "Harvard Sophomore Chosen as First Youth Poet Laureate | News | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  8. ^ Astrid (March 22, 2018). "Meet Amanda Gorman, the L.A. Native Who Is the First National Youth Poet Laureate". L.A. TACO. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Meet the First Youth Poet Laureate". NBC Learn. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  10. ^ Rodriguez-Cayro, Kyli (January 18, 2018). "These Twin Sisters Have A Powerful Message About Making Sure Your Resistance Includes All Women". Bustle. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  11. ^ Luders-Manuel, Shannon (April 19, 2016). "Meet Gabrielle Gorman: Filmmaker and YoungArts Winner". Essence. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  12. ^ Larsen, Peter (January 20, 2021). "Los Angeles native Amanda Gorman will be youngest poet to read at presidential inauguration". The Orange County Register. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  13. ^ a b c Hawkins, Khaliha (June 4, 2018). "America's First Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman on the Power of Young Women". Glamour. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  14. ^ Gorman, Amanda (November 21, 2014). "How Poetry Gave Me a Voice". Huffington Post. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  15. ^ Breslow, Jason (January 19, 2021). "'History Has Its Eyes On Us.' Poet Amanda Gorman Seeks Right Words For Inauguration". Morning Edition. NPR. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  16. ^ "16 Alumna and US Youth Poet Laureate Presents Poem at Library of Congress". Newroads.org. September 14, 2017.
  17. ^ Goodman, Jeff (July 14, 2016). "Santa Monica students win Milken scholarships". Santa Monica Daily Press. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  18. ^ Flood, Alison (January 19, 2021). "Amanda Gorman will be youngest poet to recite at a presidential inauguration". The Guardian. Retrieved January 19, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ "Wordsmith. Change-maker". Amanda Gorman. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  20. ^ "Amanda Gorman". Poetry Foundation. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  21. ^ @PhiBetaKappa (January 21, 2021). "Congratulations again to #PBKmember @TheAmandaGorman. Her words and presentation yesterday were a remarkable testament to the power of the #humanities:" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  22. ^ @FrederickLawrence (January 21, 2021). "@PhiBetaKappa is enormously proud of our member @TheAmandaGorman for her words and presentation of 'The Hill We Climb' at the inauguration of @POTUS. Her words will continue to sustain us, challenge us, and inspire us" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  23. ^ a b Hassan, Adeel (February 28, 2018). "A Coda to Black History Month". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  24. ^ Petronzio, Matt (September 17, 2017). "Watch the first-ever U.S. youth poet laureate perform a stunning poem about social change". Mashable. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  25. ^ Hawgood, Alex (November 3, 2017). "How Amanda Gorman Became the Nation's First Youth Poet Laureate". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  26. ^ Sonksen, Mike (April 24, 2015). "Mentoring the Next Generation of L.A. Letters". KCET. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  27. ^ a b Thomson, Hilary (May 27, 2014). "Writes of Passage". Trek. University of British Columbia. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  28. ^ Eppolito, Sophia (September 21, 2017). "A young poet for whom words are not enough". The Boston Globe. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  29. ^ Gilpin, Caroline Crosson (November 7, 2017). "Do You Read or Write Poetry?". The New York Times. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  30. ^ "Gender Letter: All the Poetry That's Fit to Print". The New York Times. April 26, 2018. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  31. ^ Italie, Hillel (January 15, 2021). "Meet Amanda Gorman, the 22-year-old poet chosen to read at the inauguration of Joe Biden". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  32. ^ Italie, Hillel (January 15, 2021). "Poet Amanda Gorman, 22, Will Read at Biden's Inauguration". Time. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  33. ^ "Poet and former Youth Laureate Amanda Gorman has book deal". The Boston Globe. Associated Press. July 11, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  34. ^ a b "Harvard's Amanda Gorman first youth poet to open Library of Congress literary season". The Boston Globe. September 18, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  35. ^ Charles, Ron (September 14, 2017). "New U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith reports for duty". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  36. ^ Fouriezos, Nick (December 1, 2017). "How a Young Poet Is Nurturing Empathy ... With Virtual Reality". OZY. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  37. ^ Rego, Paula (November 4, 2017). "America's First Youth Poet Laureate Also Wants to Run For President In 2036!". Essence. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  38. ^ Sheppard, Elena (May 29, 2018). "America's 20-year-old youth poet laureate won't let 'small-minded prejudice' stop her". Yahoo!. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  39. ^ Barajas, Julia (January 17, 2021). "How a 22-year-old L.A. native became Biden's inauguration poet". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  40. ^ Krueger, Hanna; Diti Kohli (January 10, 2021). "Amid presidents and pop stars, poet Amanda Gorman grabs the spotlight at inauguration". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 11, 2021. She plans on taking the oath of office herself. 'I always say the really, really long-term goal, meaning 2036, is to become president,' Gorman said in a 2017 interview with the Globe after being named the first National Youth Poet Laureate. She has repeated the hope in interviews ever since.
  41. ^ Militare, Jessica (June 4, 2018). "Meet Glamour's 2018 College Women of the Year". Glamour.
  42. ^ "Amanda Gorman: Inauguration poet calls for 'unity and togetherness'". BBC News. January 10, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2021. Hillary Clinton tweeted that Gorman had promised to run for president in 2036 and added: 'I for one can't wait.'
  43. ^ "2019 Young Futurists: For These 25 Game Changers, the Future Is Now". The Root. March 27, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  44. ^ Marie Zorrilla, Mónica (January 20, 2021). "Who Is 22-Year-Old Inaugural Poet Amanda Gorman?". Variety. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  45. ^ Countdown, Ted (October 25, 2020). "'Earthrise' poem dares us to dream a different reality". Race to Zero. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  46. ^ Holthaus, Eric (January 15, 2021). "Amanda Gorman, the climate poet for our time". thephoenix.substack.com. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  47. ^ "Presidential Inaugural Committee Announces Participants in the 59th Inaugural Ceremonies". bideninaugural.org. January 14, 2021.
  48. ^ Gabbatt, Adam (January 20, 2021). "'An inspiration to us all': Amanda Gorman's inaugural poem stirs hope and awe". The Guardian. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  49. ^ Shalal, Andrea (January 20, 2021). "Poet Amanda Gorman, 22, captures 'bruised, but whole' U.S. at Biden, Harris inauguration". Reuters. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  50. ^ Alter, Alexandra (January 20, 2021). "Amanda Gorman, a 22-year-old poet, asks 'Where can we find light?' in Inauguration Day recitation". The New York Times. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  51. ^ Neumann, Sean (January 15, 2021). "Amanda Gorman, 22, Will Be the Youngest Poet to Read at an Inauguration Day Ceremony". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  52. ^ Inskeep, Steve (January 19, 2021). "'History Has Its Eyes On Us.' Poet Amanda Gorman Seeks Right Words For Inauguration". NPR. Retrieved January 19, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) Transcript of interview.
  53. ^ Wang, Amy B; Merry, Stephanie (January 20, 2021). "Amanda Gorman reads poem 'The Hill We Climb' at Biden inauguration". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  54. ^ "Amanda Gorman Showed Why Schools Should Teach Poetry". Bloomberg.com. January 23, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  55. ^ Alter, Alexandra (February 7, 2021). "Amanda Gorman is the first poet to perform for the Super Bowl". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  56. ^ a b Evelyn, Kenya (January 21, 2021). "Amanda Gorman books top bestselling lists after soul-stirring inaugural poem". The Guardian. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  57. ^ Italie, Hillel (January 28, 2021). "Interest continues to grow in inaugural poet Amanda Gorman". The Associated Press. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  58. ^ Saad, Nardine (January 26, 2021). "Amanda Gorman signs with IMG Models, but we all know it's the presidency she's after". Los Angeles Times.
  59. ^ Gardner, Chris (January 25, 2021). "Inaugural Poet Amanda Gorman Signs With IMG Models". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  60. ^ Garrand, Danielle (January 28, 2021). "Inaugural poet Amanda Gorman to perform original piece at Super Bowl". CBS News. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  61. ^ Tinner-Williams, Nate (January 21, 2021). "Amanda Gorman: Poet Laureate, bestseller, Ivy Leaguer and Black Catholic". Black Catholic Messenger. Retrieved January 21, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  62. ^ Murphy, Chris (January 22, 2021). "Amanda Gorman Geeking Out Over James Corden Won Late Night This Week". Vulture. New York (magazine). Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
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