Amanda Gorman: Education, Influences, and Rise to Literary Stardom

Amanda Gorman, born on March 7, 1998, in Los Angeles, California, has rapidly ascended to become one of the most influential voices of her generation. Known for her powerful poetry addressing themes of Black identity, feminism, marginalization, and climate change, Gorman's journey is deeply intertwined with her educational experiences and the mentors who guided her along the way.

Early Life and Overcoming Speech Challenges

Raised in West Los Angeles by her single mother, Joan Wicks, a middle-school teacher in Watts, Gorman, along with her twin sister Gabrielle, faced early challenges with speech. Amanda was diagnosed with an auditory-processing disorder in kindergarten, making it difficult for her to pronounce the letter "r." She participated in speech therapy and found creative ways to improve her pronunciation, including listening to the "Hamilton" soundtrack.Gorman shared with Winfrey, "I think it made me all that much stronger of a writer when you have to teach yourself how to say words from scratch. When you are learning through poetry how to speak English, it lends to a great understanding of sound, of pitch, of pronunciation, so I think of my speech impediment not as a weakness or a disability, but as one of my greatest strengths."Despite these challenges, Gorman found strength in writing, viewing her speech impediment not as a weakness but as a unique advantage that honed her skills in reading, writing, and understanding the nuances of language.

Educational Foundation and Early Literary Influences

Gorman's mother's profession as an educator exposed her to disparities in educational opportunities, fueling her passion for advocacy. She attended New Roads School in Santa Monica, a private school that nurtured her ability to create meaning from her lessons rather than focusing on memorization. This approach had a tremendous influence on her educational development. Amanda says that approach really influenced her because she was not graded on her capacity to memorize facts or formulas. Instead, the school nurtured her ability to create meaning of her lessons.

Her literary journey began early, with Gorman writing from a young age. The poem "Dandelion Wine" by Ray Bradbury, which she encountered in third grade, sparked her love for poetry. However, she noted that poetry wasn't robustly taught in her classrooms, so she began writing it before she started reading it extensively.

In middle school, Gorman read poems by Sonia Sanchez, which she adored. Then diving into Angles of Ascent: A Norton Anthology of African American Poetry left Gorman feeling even more connected to poetry. She further developed her love of writing with mentors from the nonprofit organization WriteGirl. She went on to perform for WriteGirl, The Moth and Urban Word.

WriteGirl and Mentorship

At 14 years old, Amanda and her fraternal twin sister joined WriteGirl, a nonprofit organization Based in Los Angeles that offers workshops and one-on-one mentorship to young aspiring writers. "[Through WriteGirl] I got a lot of free creative writing resources when I was just a skinny girl with a speech impediment who needed a mentor," she told CNN host Anderson Cooper during an interview. Through WriteGirl, Gorman found a community of women writers who provided her with invaluable mentorship and resources. Berland started working with Gorman, who is now 22, six years ago. They met in the spring of 2015 at the Museum of Contemporary Art in downtown Los Angeles, where Gorman was reciting a poem as part of WriteGirl, a nonprofit that empowers girls through self-expression. “Amanda got up there and she was so far superior to the other kids,” Berland recalled in an interview last week. A few weeks later, someone from WriteGirl called Berland to say the group had “the perfect young girl” for her-Amanda Gorman. Gorman’s passion was clear. Berland, who has an MFA from the Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College, has published prize-winning poetry, and also wrote “Hours of Devotion: Fanny Neuda’s Book of Prayers for Jewish Women” (Schocken, 2007), a verse adaptation of the first Jewish prayer book by a woman. “She was primarily a spoken-word poet,” Berland recalled. “Maya Angelou was her favorite. “She’s really a genius, totally brilliant,” she added. Sitting in the noisy café, Berland and Gorman read poets like Terrance Hayes and Yusef Komunyakaa. Berland gave Gorman assignments she herself had in graduate school, which she said Gorman aced, though she was just 16. Berland gave Gorman prompts to write from, and Gorman, to Berland’s astonishment, would be able to concentrate and write amidst the din. “She’s very enterprising,” said Berland. “You know how she got to Milken? She picked up a flyer. She found things out herself.

One of her mentors, Berland, a Jewish poet and author, recognized Gorman's exceptional talent early on. Berland started working with Gorman six years ago. They met in the spring of 2015 at the Museum of Contemporary Art in downtown Los Angeles, where Gorman was reciting a poem as part of WriteGirl, a nonprofit that empowers girls through self-expression. Berland gave Gorman assignments she herself had in graduate school, which she said Gorman aced, though she was just 16.

Harvard University and Continued Growth

In 2016, Gorman's academic journey led her to Harvard University on a full scholarship, where she majored in sociology. In 2016, Gorman went to Harvard University on a full scholarship, and Berland’s formal mentorship ended. The two women continued to meet and talk poetry when Gorman returned home to Santa Monica during the summer. She graduated cum laude in 2020, remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic. During her senior year in high school, Amanda was nominated and earned her spot as one of 15 L.A.-based 2016 Milken scholars. Educators nominate eligible students for this college scholarship, but students must go through a rigorous application and interview program which also commits them to participate in various program events and opportunities. With this scholarship, Amanda completed her bachelor's degree in Sociology at Hardvard University in 2020. Amanda Gorman with Michael and Lori Milken.

Her time at Harvard not only provided her with a formal education but also broadened her understanding of social issues, which she wove into her poetry. While at Harvard, Amanda Gorman became the inaugural National Youth Poet Laureate, and she toured the country reading new works, including “Earthrise” at the Los Angeles Climate Reality Leadership Corps Training (2018).

National Youth Poet Laureate and Inaugural Fame

In 2017, Gorman achieved national recognition when she was named the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate. In 2017, Amanda Gorman was appointed the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate by Urban Word - a program that supports Youth Poets Laureate in more than 60 cities, regions and states nationally. This prestigious title provided her with a platform to share her poetry and advocate for youth literacy and creativity.

Her star continued to rise. Gorman and her siblings, including her twin sister, Gabrielle, were raised by a single mother, Joan Wicks, who was a middle-school teacher. The sisters both had difficulties with speech. Amanda had an auditory-processing disorder that made it hard for her to pronounce the letter r. By her own account, she sought out poetry as an inexpensive means of expressing herself.

Gorman gained international acclaim for her performance at the presidential inauguration. In 2021, she became the youngest poet to write and read her work at a presidential inauguration. In 2021, she became the youngest poet to write and read her work at a presidential inauguration. The 22-year-old enthralled the Biden inauguration audience with "The Hill We Climb," which referenced both painful history and hope for the future. Dr. Jill Biden, who'd seen Gorman perform, suggested Gorman write a poem for the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. At the end of December 2020, the Biden Inaugural Committee invited Gorman to perform at the inauguration.

Her poem "The Hill We Climb," delivered at the inauguration of President Joe Biden in January 2021, resonated deeply with a nation grappling with division and loss. She immediately captivated the audience with her poise and her stirring message. Gesturing elegantly and employing wordplay to great effect, Gorman addressed a country grieving the losses of the COVID-19 pandemic, shaken by George Floyd’s murder in 2020, and reeling over the Capitol insurrection a few weeks prior to the inauguration. These events exposed how division sowed violence, inaction, and discrimination. She rallied listeners not only to set aside differences and to unite but also to recognize that America was at a turning point when citizens must reckon with the country’s harrowing history to redeem its founding ideals: [B]eing American is more than a pride we inherit- It’s the past we step into, and how we repair it. Gorman warned of the consequences of doing nothing, acknowledged her own presence at an inauguration as proof of the country’s ability to change, and finished with a call to look for inspiration in oneself: For there is always light, If only we’re brave enough to see it, If only we’re brave enough to be it.

Post-Inauguration Success and Advocacy

Following her inaugural performance, Gorman's career soared. By the time Gorman uttered her last, satisfying line, she was a celebrity, lauded throughout the world for meeting the moment. In the following weeks she became the first poet to perform at the Super Bowl (her poem, “Chorus of the Captains,” honors an educator, a nurse, and a veteran). She also signed a modeling contract and published a special edition of her inaugural poem. Later in 2021 Gorman cohosted the Met Gala, the annual benefit for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, with actor Timothée Chalamet, singer Billie Eilish, and tennis player Naomi Osaka. In addition, she debuted a children’s book, Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem, and published a collection of poetry, Call Us What We Carry (formerly titled The Hill We Climb, and Other Poems). She became the first poet to perform at the Super Bowl, co-hosted the Met Gala, and signed a modeling contract. She also published books, including a children's book titled "Change Sings: A Children's Anthem" and a poetry collection, "Call Us What We Carry."

In addition to her literary achievements, Gorman remains an active advocate for various causes. Inspired by Pakistani activist and future Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, Gorman became a youth delegate for the United Nations in 2013. The following year she was named the inaugural Los Angeles Youth Poet Laureate. In that capacity she worked with the County of Los Angeles Commission on Human Relations to develop youth programs. She is the founder of One Pen One Page, an organization that promotes youth literacy and creativity.

Gorman's Perspective

Gorman has spoken of her early attempts at writing being "very Anne of Green Gables", until she discovered the work of Toni Morrison in middle school: "I realized then that stories could actually be about people who look like me."[23] Observer.com reported in 2019: "It was in high school that she eventually read the poetry of other black women such as Audre Lorde and Phillis Wheatley, and started writing poems that commented on social justice issues such as intersectional feminism and race."[23] Taking a multi disciplined view to self-expression, Gorman has spoken of the connection between fashion and poetry; in 2019, Vogue magazine noted that Gorman drew inspiration "from icons such as Maya Angelou, the Duchess of Sussex, and Michelle Obama", saying: "Fashion brings a distinct visual aesthetic to language.

Recognition and Awards

Amanda Gorman's talent and dedication have earned her numerous accolades, including the Poets & Writers Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award. She is also the youngest board member of 826 National, the largest youth writing network in the United States.

Controversy

In 2023 Gorman’s work became the center of a national discussion about book bans in schools and libraries after a complaint was filed by a parent at an elementary school in Florida who said that Gorman’s book The Hill We Climb was not educational, contained hate speech, and indoctrinated children. Administrators at the school reviewed the book and reshelved it from the elementary-reading-level shelf to the middle-school shelf, saying that the “vocabulary used in the poem was determined to be of value for middle school students.” The action was condemned by the “freedom to write” organization PEN America, which said that reshelving the book still restricted its access to young readers. For her part, Gorman tweeted on the social media site X that she was “gutted” by the school’s action, and she rallied others to speak out against book bans. She later elaborated in an interview with CBS Mornings: I’m fine with those parents not liking my poetry, that’s completely in your right. But when we get to a situation where that one person’s dislike of my work leads to everyone else not having access to that, that is a huge issue…because it encroaches on our freedom to really absorb and love and enjoy literature from where we are.

Future Aspirations

Looking ahead, Amanda Gorman has expressed her intention to run for president in 2036, the first year she will be old enough to hold the office. This ambition reflects her commitment to using her voice and platform to create positive change in the world.

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