Amanda Gorman, who stole the hearts of our nation and perhaps the world reading her moving poem entitled “The Hill We Climb” at President Biden’s inauguration. Gorman, who at 17 became the country’s first National Youth Poet Laureate in 2017, said she wrote the poem “The Hill We Climb,” so “all young people could see themselves in a historical moment,” and that she has received countless letters and videos from children who were inspired to write their own poems. Now that poem, which Gorman turned into the book, “The Hill We Climb”, has been placed on a restricted list at a south Florida elementary school, after one parent’s complaint.

“We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace, and the norms and notions of what “just” is isn’t always justice.” — Amanda Gorman

Gorman began writing at only a few years of age. Gorman has an auditory processing disorder and is hypersensitive to sound. She also had a speech impediment during childhood. 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." 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. She used songs as a form of speech therapy, and explained, "My favorite thing to practice was the song 'Aaron Burr, Sir,' from Hamilton because it is jam-packed with R's. And I said, 'if I can keep up with Leslie in this track, then I am on my way to being able to say this R in a poem."

At her young age, Gorman has already accomplished what most do not in their whole life. Gorman studied sociology at Harvard College, graduating cum laude in 2020 as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Her work focuses on issues of oppression, feminism, race, and marginalization, as well as the African Diaspora. Gorman has performed multiple commissioned poems for CBS This Morning and she has spoken at events and venues across the country, including the Library of Congress and Lincoln Center. She has written for the New York Times and penned the manifesto for Nike's 2020 Black History Month campaign. Her words have won her invitations to the Obama White House and to perform for Al Gore, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Malala Yousafzai, and others.

Amanda Gorman, spoke out Tuesday, May 24, 2023, against what she described as a book ban after access to the poem she recited at President Joe Biden’s inauguration was limited at a south Florida school. Gorman decried the school’s restriction because, she said, “Children seeking knowledge on their own free time, and who might not be able to easily purchase books outright, should be encouraged. This isn’t classroom instruction,” she said. “This is kids who are seeking more information.”

“We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be: a country that is bruised but whole, benevolent but bold, fierce and free.” — Amanda Gorman

Miami-Dade County Public Schools moved Gorman’s book, “The Hill We Climb,” to the middle school section of the library after a parent filed a formal objection to the work, according to documents obtained by the Florida Freedom to Read Project and shared with media. In a statement, the district said no literature had been banned or removed. “It was determined at the school that ‘The Hill We Climb’ is better suited for middle school students and, it was shelved in the middle school section of the media center. The book remains available in the “media center,” the statement said.

“We close the divide because we know to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside.” — Amanda Gorman

Gorman is still young, if she is doing these things now, I can only imagine the great things that she will produce in the future, Final side note, apparently sales of the book have gone through the roof, after this report. Smile