Revisiting “The Hill We Climb”

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.”