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At just 22, the nation s first Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman delivered one of the most poignant and profound moments at Wednesday s inauguration of President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. With poise and grace, she read her poem “The Hill We Climb” wearing a bright yellow Prada blazer and a symbolic gift from Oprah: statement gold and diamond hoop earrings by Nikos Koulis.
On this historic day, Oprah, who has been one of Gorman’s most vocal supporters, gave the young poet the bold earrings and a birdcage ring, which recalls Maya Angelou s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” poem. Making this a tradition, Oprah gave Angelou a gift before she delivered her reading at Bill Clinton s 1993 inauguration.
Broken Traditions: How Biden-Harris Inauguration Compared to Past US Ceremonies
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From newly imposed COVID-19 protocols to now-former US President Donald Trump departing the White House without attending the historic inauguration ceremony, the transfer of power between the two presidents was far from the picture of your run-of-the-mill presidential customs.
Despite repeated attempts by Trump and his supporters to prevent US President Joe Biden from taking office, the Pennsylvania-born official was undeterred as he took the presidential oath at the US Capitol and ultimately became the 46th president of the United States.
However, as both Biden and US Vice President Kamala Harris took their oaths, no one could deny the Wednesday event was the polar opposite of past ceremonies, as the nation’s capital remained under lockdown
America’s first Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman gave a powerful reading of her poem “The Hill We Climb” at the 2021 inauguration. (And she did it wearing jewelry that Oprah Winfrey gave her!) Here are just a few moving lines from it:
We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it,
Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy.
And this effort very nearly succeeded.
But while democracy can be periodically delayed,
It can never be permanently defeated.
In this truth, in this faith, we trust.
For while we have our eyes on the future,
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman speaks at the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. During today’s inauguration ceremony Joe Biden becomes the 46th president of the United States. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775612666
Rob Carr, Getty
Following in the footsteps of Maya Angelou and Robert Frost, Amanda Gorman wrote her way into history Wednesday with her performance at the inauguration of President Joe Biden.
Unlike Frost who was 86 when he became the first poet to speak at the presidential inaugural in 1961 or Angelou, who was 64 when she spoke at the 1993 inaugural, Gorman is just 22 the youngest poet to speak at a presidential inauguration.
Cincinnati Enquirer
There s almost always a Cincinnati connection to national events, and the inauguration of Joe Biden is no different.
National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman became the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, performing an original poem titled The Hill We Climb at the inauguration of President Joe Biden.
At 22, Gorman is an accomplished poet and writer. Her first children s book, Change Sings, is available for pre-order and is illustrated by none other than Cincinnati artist Loren Long.
Long has lived in Cincinnati his entire adult life, having moved to the Queen City to work for Gibson Greetings after he finished school. He grew up in Lexington, Kentucky.