5 Contemporary Black Poets You Should Know
Our nation’s poet laureate Amanda Gorman is in good company.
When Amanda Gorman ascended to the steps of our nation’s capital she did so standing on the shoulders of Black women who have captured the spirit of momentous occasions in black and white for generations.
Gorman contributed to a rich legacy that includes Gwendolyn Brooks, Rita Dove, Tracy K. Smith, Maya Angelou and more when she became the youngest National Poet Laureate. Her thoughtful description of our “unfinished,” nation and recognition of a light that is occasionally obstructed but never snuffed out infused hope into our country for six full minutes.
Wednesday was a big day as President Biden and Vice President Harris were sworn into office, but we’d be remiss not to mention all of the incredible fashion that showed up at the Capitol.
Photos: Highlights of Inauguration Day 2021 Share Updated: 8:00 AM CST Jan 21, 2021 Courtenay Tucker
Photos: Highlights of Inauguration Day 2021 1 of 33
Former President Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump depart from the White House on Marine One
Former President Donald Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump departed the White House on Marine One. The couple took in an aerial view of Washington D.C., before flying to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland to address supporters. Trump s decision to leave several hours ahead of the inauguration ceremony makes him the first president in more than 150 years to refuse to attend the inauguration.
PHOTO: Eric Thayer
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
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Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman speaks at the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden. Drew Angerer/Getty Images
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.
President Biden s inauguration concluded with The Hill We Climb, National Youth Poet Laureate Amada Gorman s beautiful poem written for the ceremony, which includes the lines above, written after the storming of the Capitol. As recently as yesterday, I could barely allow myself the sort of hope and resolve these lines communicate; I was awash, like so many others, in a miasma of anger, confusion, anxiety and fear.
Poet Amanda Gorman’s Unreleased Books Become Bestsellers After Powerful Inauguration Poem
01/21/21 AT 1:30 PM
Inauguration Day poet Amanda Gorman is already a bestselling author on Amazon and her books aren t expected to be released for months.
Hours after reciting “The Hill We Climb” at the swearing-in ceremony of President Joe Biden, the poet took to Twitter to reveal her unreleased books took the top two spots on Amazon.
“I AM ON THE FLOOR MY BOOKS ARE #1 & #2 ON AMAZON AFTER 1 DAY! Thank you so much to everyone for supporting me and my words. As Yeats put it: ‘For words alone are certain good: Sing, then,’” she tweeted Wednesday night.