Four teenage poets are in the running for the title of this year s National Youth Poet Laureate. We speak with the finalists. And, after former President Trump alleged election crime in Arizona, Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer could be silent no more. Richer, a Republican who oversees voter registration, joins us. That and more, in hour one of
Here & Now s May 20, 2021, full broadcast. You can find more at hereandnow.org and follow us on Twitter, Instagram or join the conversation on Facebook.
This program aired on May 20, 2021.
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Is poetry undergoing a renaissance? It sure feels like it. In the first two months of 2021 alone, National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman reawakened us to the power of poetry through back-to-back performances at the Biden inauguration and the Super Bowl. And just last year, Stockton-based spoken-word poet Brandon Leake won the 15
th season of television’s “America’s Got Talent,” suggesting poetry is reaching the masses in a fresh new way.
It’s a national trend, but also a local one. Sacramento has its own thriving poetry scene, and plenty to brag about. In January, one of our city’s two Youth Poets Laureate, Alexandra Huynh, was named one of four finalists in the National Youth Poet Laureate competition. (The winner will be announced May 22.)
Well, young people write poetry, too and the kids are
more than alright.
Since 2017, the National Youth Poet Laureate program has named an annual poet laureate who’s under the age of 20.
You may know its very first honoree: Amanda Gorman. She performed her poem “The Hill We Climb” at the inauguration of President Joe Biden in January.
The program is set to name its new National Youth Poet Laureate later this month. So we’re getting to know three of this year’s finalists: Serena Yang, Alora Young, and Alexandra Huynh.
What role does poetry play in their lives and their community?
The Tablet May 12, 2021
American poet Amanda Gorman reads a poem during the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States at the Capitol in Washington Jan. 20, 2021. She is a parishioner at St. Brigid Catholic Church in Los Angeles. (Photo: CNS/Patrick Semansky, pool via Reuters)
EAST FLATBUSH Not many people knew who Amanda Gorman was before this year. Today, the 23-year-old Catholic poet and activist is a household name around the world, including among children and teens from St. Therese of Lisieux Church in East Flatbush.
In fact, the parish’s Social Justice & Outreach committee chose Gorman as the inspiration for its annual poetry and essay competition.