"The Belly of the Beast”: Amanda Gorman’s The Hill We Climb

Abstract

Amanda Gorman, the first American National Youth Poet Laureate, captivated more than 33 million people at the Biden/Harris Inauguration in January 2021, with her poem, The Hill We Climb. Gorman’s poetry blurred the distinction between dominance and subalternity by creating a third space, a hybrid territory (an amalgamation of sorts) between the two where the past is reconciled with the present and looks toward the future. In Gorman’s own words, “…what I’m about and what I’m here for is way beyond this moment. I’m learning that I am not lightning that strikes once. I am the hurricane that comes every single year, and you can expect to see me again soon” (See Unity With Purpose 02/04/2021). Today, Gorman’s poetry functions as a welcome relief in a politically charged, divided country. Lessons from such performances testify to a country’s determination, perseverance and love for the nation and its people. As a result, Gorman affirms that whatever the price and beyond life's contradictions, the human spirit is perpetually involved in seeking, not to divide, but to unite in the name of truth, authenticity and harmony for an ultimate deliverance.

Keywords

• amanda gorman
• the hill we climb
• american poetry
• biden inauguration
• postmodern theory