On the day of inauguration, as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris accepted their new roles as President and Vice President of the United States, one moment during the ceremony seems to stand out.
Amanda Gorman, a 22-year-old poet and Harvard graduate recited an original spoken word poem titled, ‘The Hill We Climb’ which deeply expressed the hope that we as a country still have after facing a series of challenges over the years.
The poem captures the realistic perspective that is necessary to understand our past and the possibilities of our future. One part of the poem states, “And yes we are far from polished far from pristine but that doesn’t mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect, we are striving to forge a union with purpose. To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man”.
Not only did her words touch the hearts and minds of our nation but so did her tone, confidence and overall glow which seemed to translate into faith for healing of our country. As she stood with her yellow jacket in full glory, Ms. Gorman elegantly reminded us why this election and inauguration is so important in U.S. history. Not only is this shift in power happening in the midst of a global pandemic, as well as a racial and political war, but this power is being shifted to a black woman who serves as the first woman of color in office. It gives testimony that anything is possible through faith, hard work and perseverance.
To access the link to the entire spoken word video as well as the transcript, click here.