March 7 …

Amanda Gorman is an American poet, activist, and spoken-word artist whose public readings and books have reshaped contemporary conversations about democracy, race, and youth leadership.

Born March 7, 1998 in Los Angeles, Gorman was raised by her mother, Joan Wicks, alongside her twin sister. She overcame a childhood speech impediment and an auditory processing disorder through dedicated speech therapy and an early love for literature.

Gorman attended Harvard University, where she graduated in 2020 with a degree in sociology. She honed her writing skills through youth arts programs like WriteGirl and Urban Word before founding One Pen One Page, which offers free creative writing programs to underserved youth.

Among her notable achievements, Gorman served as the inaugural National Youth Poet Laureate in 2017. She delivered her poem The Hill We Climb at President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021, making her the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, and also performed at the 2021 Super Bowl.

Gorman’s published works include The Hill We Climb (2021), Call Us What We Carry (2021), Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem (2021), and Something, Someday (2023). She has received several accolades, including the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Poetry and recognition on prestigious lists like Time 100 Next, along with nominations such as a Grammy shortlist for spoken-word performance.

Gorman draws inspiration from literary figures such as Maya Angelou and Elizabeth Alexander, as well as oratorial icons like Martin Luther King Jr. and Frederick Douglass. Lin-Manuel Miranda has commended her inaugural reading, while mentors and supporters include the nonprofit communities at WriteGirl and Urban Word, and influential public figures like Jill Biden and Oprah Winfrey, who wrote a foreword for her inaugural poem’s published version.

Gorman’s contemporaries in spoken-word and contemporary poetry include Ada Limón and Tracy K. Smith. Although early in her career and yet to establish a formal list of protégés, her work and One Pen One Page actively nurture and inspire young writers.

Gorman’s cultural and historical impact lies in her ability to amplify youth voices and redefine poetry as a civic tool. By blending sharp political insight with accessible, performative language, she has widened public engagement with poetry, fostered civic dialogue during a time of polarization, and helped position young Black women as key narrators in national conversations.

Collectively, the awards, bestseller status, high-profile commissions, and ongoing advocacy of Amanda Gorman establish her as a significant influence on 21st-century American literature and civic culture.