So Much More Than “A Skinny Black Girl”: Amanda Gorman Is The Face of The Future We So Desperately Need

Yesterday, our country began a new chapter and Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gordon embodied the passion and spirit our nation needs—no—requires and deserves. She proclaimed herself to be “a skinny black girl” in front of the nation and world, yet what the collective masses saw was so much more.

She is a light. 

She is a force. 

She owns her space.

She is a woman filled with grace, extreme intelligence, eloquence, passion, and fervor to help make America a better inclusive, unified, and kind country. 

Amanda Gorman gives me hope.  Hope for my own children and their future.

Her poise extends far beyond her 22 years. At almost 40, I find myself in awe of everything she is. She is what this country needs to bring real, lasting change. Not solely for the sake of race and gender inequality, but also as a role model for our daughters and sons. She exemplifies that smart is beautiful, words far more powerful than “likes” and vanity. She showcases her gift not to inflate the ego but to inspire. Her aspirations are noble and will not be without significant challenges. 

I hope to see more of our youth follow her example of humble, yet passionate civic engagement. I hope we parents encourage our sons and daughters to admire and follow in the footsteps of Amanda Gorman and others like her. We need to focus on a culture of intelligence, rationality, inclusion, integrity, and compassion. I hope to see our youth break away from the culture of vanity and self and embrace a culture of kindness. 

To Miss Amanda Gorman: You are so much more than a skinny black girl—you are an inspiration and a breath of fresh air. I (and the world) can’t wait to see what you will achieve. Thank you for being you and paving the way.