Fly Ty Says Everyone Was Screaming “Amanda, Amanda!” So Who Is Amanda Gorman? [Video]
Fly Ty says everyone was screaming “Amanda, Amanda!” while watching the Inauguration
This Girl is Amazing! You heard it first from Fly Ty, Yes I said it 22-year-old poet Amanda Gorman took the stage at the 2021 Inauguration of President Joe Biden on Jan 20th and delivered a poem that completely stole the show. The Los Angeles native recited an original piece called “The Hill We Climb,” and brought tears to many in the audience as well as watching at home.
I couldn’t believe it until I seen it with my own eyes, so I had to find out more about Amanda. The young poet follows in the footsteps of Robert Frost and Maya Angelou who have also spoken at past inaugurations. She is an American poet and activist from Los Angeles, California. Gorman’s work focuses on issues of oppression, feminism, race, and marginalization, as well as the African diaspora. Gorman is the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate. She published the poetry book The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough in 2015. Gorman’s art and activism focus on issues of oppression, feminism, Gorman said she was inspired to become a youth delegate for the United Nations in 2013 after watching a speech by Pakistani Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai. Gorman was chosen as the youth poet laureate of Los Angeles in 2014. She published the poetry book The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough in 2015.
Gorman is the founder of the nonprofit organization One Pen One Page, which runs a youth writing and leadership program. In 2017, she became the first youth poet to open the literary season for the Library of Congress, and she has read her poetry on MTV. The Morgan Library and Museum acquired her poem “In This Place (An American Lyric)” and displayed it in 2018 near works by Elizabeth Bishop. In 2017, Gorman became the first author to be featured on XQ Institute’s Book of the Month, a monthly giveaway to share inspiring Gen Z’s favorite books. She wrote a tribute for black athletes for Nike and has a book deal with Viking Children’s Books to write two children’s picture books.
In 2017, Gorman said she wants to run for president in 2036.
