In this age of racial and political tensions, unity becomes both a hot topic as well as a necessity to move forward. One of the most powerful calls to unity came from “The Hill We Climb,” the poem performed at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, only days after the storming of the Capital. It was a call for unity that tried to tie the country together so it can move forward--so that the dark, racially-charged past can be remembered, but moved past. Only time will tell whether this poem’s message will truly hold true.
Amanda Gorman is one of the most influential young women that comes to mind. At 23 years old, she has already proven herself to be a proficient poet and has begun to make her mark on culture. She became the first National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States in 2017. She is in the process of publishing her second and third book, both of which contain “The Hill We Climb,” arguably her most identifiable work.
She is a Harvard University cum laude graduate. As a current college student, it is inspiring to see such amazing people close to my age group. It is a reminder that we are not only the future, but also the now. Our decisions can set us up for success when we are older, but we cannot afford to forget that we are also living in the present.
Through her work as a poet, Amanda Gorman has used her platform to uplift an assortment of people. In “The Hill We Climb,” she speaks how she, a “skinny black girl” is able to dream of better things because of our country, but she does not stop there. She acknowledges our country’s flaws and calls for us to do better, to rise up, to create a country where we can all truly be free. A personal touch I appreciated was when she slipped in two lines referencing Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton musical, which is widely recognizable among young people as part of pop culture. These references tie the younger audience to the message, showing that there we are already making a mark on history. In addition, Hamilton is known for breaking boundaries. It is a symbol of progress with its multi-racial cast and modern-thinking lyrics that speak of empowering immigrants and women.
This year, she became the first National Youth Poet Laureate to share a poem for the Super Bowl. In “Chorus of the Captains,” Amanda Gorman reminds us of the sacrifices of “leaders, healers, and educators” as they propel us through the COVID-19 era. These heroes do not act alone. Amanda Gorman makes sure to mention that we honor these heroes by having compassion, being kind, and living for others.
Amanda Gorman has already become a symbol of unity. She is an amazing woman, still destined to do great things with her poetry. Her words find meaning to inspire us to strive for a better life together. She asks for change so that people of black, brown, asian, and other descent can be seen with the value they deserve, value that is still being withheld. Her poems are yet another reminder of how far we have come, but also how far we still have to go.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.