World Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Amanda Gorman

アマンダ・ゴーマン

Amanda Gorman

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1998-03-07 （Los Angeles, California, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Religion
Catholic
Residence History
Los Angeles (raised) → Cambridge, Massachusetts (studied at Harvard)

Career

Occupations
Poet, Activist, Model
Active Years
2014-
Memberships
American Antiquarian Society
Influenced By
Toni Morrison, Audre Lorde, Phillis Wheatley, Maya Angelou, Michelle Obama (cited as inspiration)

Education

New Roads School
Period: 幼稚園から高校（K–12）
Country: United States
Received a Milken Family Foundation college scholarship
Harvard University (Harvard College)
Harvard College / Sociology
Degree: BA
Period: 2016–2020
Year of Graduation: 2020
Country: United States
Graduated cum laude; member of Phi Beta Kappa

Awards

Los Angeles Youth Poet Laureate (inaugural)
2014
Organization: Urban Word LA / Los Angeles youth programs
Result: Winner
National Youth Poet Laureate
2017
Organization: National Youth Poet Laureate program
Result: Winner
OZY Genius Award
2017
Organization: OZY
Result: Winner (grant)
Goodreads Choice Awards — Best Poetry
2021
Work: The Hill We Climb
Category: Best Poetry
Organization: Goodreads
Result: Winner
Goodreads Choice Awards — Best Poetry
2022
Work: Call Us What We Carry
Category: Best Poetry
Organization: Goodreads
Result: Winner
Children's and Family Emmy Award — Outstanding Short Form Program
2022
Work: We the People
Category: Outstanding Short Form Program
Organization: National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Result: Winner
Grammy Award — Best Spoken Word Poetry Album
2023
Work: Call Us What We Carry (audiobook)
Category: Best Spoken Word Poetry Album
Organization: The Recording Academy
Result: Nominated
Species named in her honor (alga)
2022
Work: Gormaniella terricola (species)
Organization: Academic researchers
Result: Named in honor

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough

2015 Poetry

An early poetry collection published in her teens, containing poems about growth, community, and identity.

coming of agecommunityidentity

The Hill We Climb

2021 Poetry / Inaugural poem

The poem delivered at the inauguration of Joe Biden; a call for unity and hope that gained international attention.

unityhopedemocracy

Change Sings: A Children's Anthem

2021 Children's book (picture book)

A picture-book project for young readers that speaks about change and hope in lyrical form.

changehopecivic engagement

Call Us What We Carry

2021 Poetry

A poetry collection exploring identity, resilience, and social issues; received critical acclaim and bestseller status.

identityresiliencethe human experience

Something, Someday

2023 Children's book

A children's book encouraging imagination and hope for the future.

futureimaginationhope

Bibliography

  • The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough
  • The Hill We Climb: Poems
  • The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country
  • Change Sings: A Children's Anthem
  • Call Us What We Carry
  • Something, Someday

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Rhythmic, oratory/spoken-word styleUse of clear imagery and rhetorical repetition
Recurring Motifs
hope and unityrace and justiceresilienceraising one's voice

Health

  • Auditory processing disorder
    幼少期〜現在
    Has sensitivity to sound; has described developing strong reading and writing skills and using artistic practice as part of coping and expression.
  • Childhood speech impediment
    幼少期
    Undergone speech therapy in childhood and has spoken about using song and performance to improve articulation and confidence.

Legacy

As a young Black female poet who read at a U.S. presidential inauguration, she gained international recognition, raising the profile of poetry and spoken-word and serving as a role model for young activists; her books became bestsellers and influenced cultural and social conversations.

Museums

  • Morgan Library & Museum (holds poem) New York City

Academic Societies

  • American Antiquarian Society (member)

Archives

  • Morgan Library & Museum collections (poem acquisition)

In Popular Culture

  • Gained international attention after reading at the presidential inauguration
  • First poet to perform at the Super Bowl
  • Featured on the cover of Vogue (first poet to do so)
  • Co-hosted the Met Gala

Quotes

  • My hope is that my poem will represent a moment of unity for our country; with my words, I'll be able to speak to a new chapter and era for our nation.
    Source: The Washington Post (interview prior to the inauguration) (2021)

Trivia

  • Youngest poet to read at a U.S. presidential inauguration (2021).
  • First poet to perform at the Super Bowl (2021).
  • Several of her books became bestsellers immediately following the inauguration, with large first printings announced.
  • First poet to appear on the cover of Vogue (May 2021).
  • Reportedly declined numerous endorsement offers after the inauguration (reports cited about $17 million in offers turned down).