Amanda Gorman, the 26-year-old poet laureate, first captured the hearts of millions with her powerful poem, The Hill We Climb, at President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021.
Now, she is once again in the spotlight after reciting “This Sacred Scene” at the 2024 Democratic National Conference in Chicago.
Raised by her single mother, Joan Wicks, in Los Angeles, along with her twin sister Gabrielle and older brother Spencer, Amanda Gorman credits her mother for instilling in her the value of education.
Her mother, a sixth-grade English teacher at an inner-city school, inspired Gorman to seek higher education not only for herself but for those around her.
Gorman’s twin sister, Gabrielle, is an activist and film writer who has directed documentaries and attended the Sundance Film Festival as a YoungArts x Sundance Ignite fellow.
She has been recognized as one of the top filmmakers in the country by the National YoungArts Foundation.
Amanda Gorman made history as the youngest inaugural poet laureate in American history on January 20, 2021. Her poem, The Hill We Climb, emphasized unity and hope, a message encouraged by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, who recommended Gorman for the prestigious role.
Since her inaugural appearance, Gorman has continued to make waves, co-hosting the Met Gala and gracing the cover of Time magazine.
