Dressed in a bright yellow coat and her braids twisted atop her head like a crown, all eyes were on Amanda Gorman last week as she captivated the nation with an awe-inspiring performance of her poem, “The Hill We Climb” at the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Bertha Gorman is proud of all four of her grandchildren. Amanda, right, the first National Youth Poet Laureate, graduated from Harvard and her twin sister, Gabrielle, left, graduated from UCLA. (Courtesy photo)
In reciting the poem she wrote in the wake of the seizing of the U.S. Capitol earlier this month, Ms. Gorman, 22, became the youngest person to read a poem at the presidential inauguration. She follows in the footsteps of the late Maya Angelou, whom she admires. She shared the stage with singers Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez and bumped fists with former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama.
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San Diego-based vegan brand Maya’s Cookies just launched a collection of cookies for Black History Month. Brand owner Maya Madsen crafted the specialty cookies to evoke the work of three Black icons. The Amanda Gorman is made in honor of the 22-year-old National Youth Poet Laureate who delivered “The Hill We Climb” poem during the 2021 inauguration. Inspired by Gorman’s yellow coat and red headband, the lemon raspberry cookie features raspberries soaked in lemon juice overnight, chunks of white chocolate, and a dash of lemon zest. The Hank Aaron dedicated to the legendary baseball hall-of-famer who passed at the age of 86 on January 22, 2021 features Cracker Jack pieces, roasted peanuts, butterscotch chips, and is topped with flakey sea salt to evoke snacks found at baseball games. The Debbie Allen honors the legendary performer the subject of the 2020 film
Dinah Berland didn’t just cry, she screamed.
“Oh my goodness, I was just thrilled,” Berland, a Jewish poet and author who has been a mentor to the young poet laureate. “I knew she would rise to the occasion, because of who she is.”
Berland started working with Gorman, who is now 22, six years ago. She has seen an already-gifted girl grow, through hard work and focused ambition, into the young woman who commanded the national spotlight and will be in it once again on Sunday when she is scheduled to recite a poem at the Superbowl pre-game show.
Image by Dinah Berland
By: Andy Gensler
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Unifying: 22-year-old National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman, who was booked by Adrienne Elrod and her team for President Joe Biden s swearing in ceremony, delivers her stirring poem “The Hill We Climb on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2021 in Washington, D.C.
Adrienne Elrod, in some ways, is an American hero. As Director of
Talent and External Affairs for the Biden Inauguration, the artists she
and her team curated for President Joe Biden’s Inauguration, including
the “Celebrating America” prime time special and especially the swearing in ceremony at the