History of Amanda Gorman in Timeline
Amanda Gorman is an American poet, activist, and model known for her work addressing oppression, feminism, race, and the African diaspora. She was the first National Youth Poet Laureate and gained widespread recognition after performing her poem "The Hill We Climb" at President Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021. The poem garnered international attention, leading to best-selling books and a professional management contract, solidifying her place as a prominent voice in contemporary literature and activism.
March 7, 1998: Amanda Gorman's Birth
On March 7, 1998, Amanda S. C. Gorman, an American poet, activist, and model, was born. She would later become the first National Youth Poet Laureate.
2013: Inspired by Malala Yousafzai
In 2013, Amanda Gorman was inspired to become a youth delegate for the United Nations after watching a speech by Malala Yousafzai.
2014: First Youth Poet Laureate of Los Angeles
In 2014, Amanda Gorman was chosen as the first youth poet laureate of Los Angeles.
2015: Publication of "The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough"
In 2015, Amanda Gorman published her poetry book "The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough".
2016: Founding of One Pen One Page
In 2016, Amanda Gorman founded the nonprofit organization One Pen One Page, a youth writing and leadership program.
April 2017: Named National Youth Poet Laureate
In April 2017, Amanda Gorman became the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate. She was chosen from five finalists and won a $10,000 grant from media company OZY in the annual OZY Genius Awards.
September 2017: Opens Literary Season for Library of Congress
In September 2017, Amanda Gorman became the first youth poet to open the literary season for the Library of Congress and read her poetry on MTV. She wrote "In This Place: An American Lyric" for her performance at the Library of Congress, which commemorated the inauguration of Tracy K. Smith as Poet Laureate of the United States.
2017: Featured Author on XQ Institute's Book of the Month
In 2017, Amanda Gorman became the first author to be featured on XQ Institute's Book of the Month.
2017: Aspiration to run for president
In 2017, Amanda Gorman stated her intention to run for president in 2036, a hope she has often repeated.
2018: Named Glamour's "College Women of the Year"
In 2018, Amanda Gorman was selected as one of Glamour magazine's "College Women of the Year".
2018: Gorman on her Speech Impediment
In 2018, Elida Kocharian of The Harvard Crimson wrote that Amanda Gorman doesn't view her speech impediment as a crutch, but rather as a gift and a strength. Gorman told The Harvard Gazette in 2018, that she saw it as a strength that made her good at reading and writing.
2018: Poem Displayed at Morgan Library and Museum
In 2018, The Morgan Library and Museum acquired Amanda Gorman's poem "In This Place (An American Lyric)" and displayed it near works by Elizabeth Bishop.
2019: Study Abroad in Madrid
In 2019, Amanda Gorman spent a semester studying in Madrid, Spain, with support from IES Abroad.
2019: Named a "Young Futurist" by The Root
In 2019, Amanda Gorman was chosen as one of The Root magazine's "Young Futurists". She also expressed support for abortion rights in a NowThis News video.
2019: Influences and fashion style.
Observer.com reported in 2019 that, during high school, Amanda Gorman 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. Vogue magazine noted in 2019 that Gorman drew inspiration from icons such as Maya Angelou, the Duchess of Sussex, and Michelle Obama.
May 2020: Appears on Some Good News and meets Oprah Winfrey
In May 2020, Amanda Gorman appeared in an episode of the web series Some Good News hosted by John Krasinski, where she virtually met Oprah Winfrey and delivered a virtual commencement speech.
2020: Graduation from Harvard
In 2020, Amanda Gorman graduated cum laude from Harvard College, where she studied sociology and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
2020: Marieke Lucas Rijneveld wins International Booker Prize
In 2020, Marieke Lucas Rijneveld won the International Booker Prize.
January 6, 2021: Amends poem after Capitol storming
After the storming of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, Amanda Gorman amended her poem's wording to address the event.
January 20, 2021: Reads at Presidential Inauguration
On January 20, 2021, Amanda Gorman read her poem "The Hill We Climb" at the inauguration of Joe Biden, becoming the youngest poet to read at a presidential inauguration in United States history.
February 7, 2021: Poetry at Super Bowl LV
On February 7, 2021, Amanda Gorman recited an original poem at Super Bowl LV's pregame ceremony, honoring three honorary captains who were essential workers. She delivered the poem "Chorus of the Captains" in a recorded video.
February 2021: Time Magazine Cover
In February 2021, Amanda Gorman made the cover of Time magazine's issue.
February 2021: Translator Steps Down Amid Criticism
In February 2021, Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, the Dutch writer chosen to translate Amanda Gorman's poem, stepped down following criticism that the publisher had chosen a white translator, heightening the debate over translation ethics.
March 2021: Racial Profiling Incident
In March 2021, Amanda Gorman said she was racially profiled by a security guard near her home. She described the experience on Twitter, calling herself a "threat to injustice, to inequality, to ignorance".
March 2021: "The Hill We Climb" book publication
In March 2021, a book version of Amanda Gorman's poem "The Hill We Climb", with a foreword by Oprah Winfrey, was published and debuted at No. 1 on several bestseller lists.
March 2021: Spanish Translator Relieved of Commission
In March 2021, the Spanish publisher Univers relieved writer Victor Obiols of the commission to translate Amanda Gorman's poem into Catalan, seeking a replacement translator who was a woman, young, activist, and preferably black.
September 13, 2021: Co-hosts the Met Gala
On September 13, 2021, Amanda Gorman co-hosted the Met Gala, alongside Timothée Chalamet, Billie Eilish, and Naomi Osaka.
September 2021: Book Release and Bestseller Status
In September 2021, Amanda Gorman's two upcoming books, the poetry collection The Hill We Climb and Change Sings: A Children's Anthem, were at the top of Amazon's bestseller list.
September 2021: Estée Lauder "Global Changemaker"
In September 2021, it was announced that Amanda Gorman would become the first Estée Lauder "Global Changemaker", representing the brand in ad campaigns and speaking events, while also working with the company's grantmaking program to promote literacy for girls and women.
December 2021: Release of "Call Us What We Carry"
In December 2021, Amanda Gorman released her poetry collection, Call Us What We Carry, published by Viking Books. The collection received critical acclaim for its exploration of themes such as identity, resilience, and the human experience.
2021: Hillary Clinton supports 2036 presidential aspiration
After she read her poem "The Hill We Climb" at President Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021, Hillary Clinton tweeted her support for Amanda Gorman's 2036 aspiration to run for president.
2021: Gorman rose to fame after inauguration poem
In 2021, Amanda Gorman rose to fame after writing and delivering her poem "The Hill We Climb" at the inauguration of Joe Biden. Her poem generated international acclaim and two of her books achieved best-seller status.
2021: Speech Therapy through Song
In 2021, Gorman shared with CBS This Morning that she used songs as a form of speech therapy, particularly "Aaron Burr, Sir" from Hamilton, to practice her R's.
May 2022: Response to Robb Elementary School Shooting
In May 2022, following the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Amanda Gorman published a short poem on Twitter and encouraged action to promote gun safety, also penning the poem, “Hymn for the Hurting.”
June 24, 2022: Support for Abortion Rights
On June 24, 2022, Amanda Gorman continued to express her support for Roe v. Wade and abortion rights in a poem posted on Twitter, including the line, "We will not let Roe v. Wade slowly fade."
2023: Restriction of "The Hill We Climb" in Florida
In 2023, access to Amanda Gorman's "The Hill We Climb" was restricted at the Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes, Florida, based on a filed complaint. Gorman responded, stating it was a violation of children's rights to free thought and speech.
2024: Speaker at Democratic National Convention
In 2024, Amanda Gorman was a speaker at the Democratic National Convention.
2036: Target year to run for president
In 2036, Amanda Gorman intends to run for president of the United States.
