Revisiting “The Hill We Climb”
Amanda Gorman's poem speaks to a shared American experience that resonates with youth and inspires hope.
On Tuesday, May 23, 2023, The Hill We Climb by National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman made national news when a Florida school added it to its list of restricted books for elementary school students. Written for President Biden’s inauguration, the inspiring poem presents themes of hope, healing, and a move toward unity.
These themes are as relevant today as they were in 2021 when Gorman became the youngest inaugural poet in United States history. In a statement issued on her social media accounts, Gorman said she wrote the poem “so that young people could see themselves in a historical moment.”
As historically significant literature, including Gorman’s poem, becomes more difficult for some students to access, Facing History & Ourselves remains committed to preparing educators to incorporate them into their curriculum through a lens of civic agency.
We invite you to revisit our mini-lesson, Reflecting on Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb”, with your students to help them consider how their unique experiences and voices can help America “forge a union with purpose.”
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