Letters

Among the many highlights of Joe Biden’s inauguration was Amanda Gorman reading her poem, aptly named “The Hill We Climb.” At only 22, she is truly a shining star.

To add to the magic, Amanda’s background is written like a modern-day storybook. A girl of color bought up by a single mom, she had a speech impediment up until just a few years ago and fought like crazy to overcome it. She is an activist and is so self-aware and socially aware that it makes one blush with awe, even though most of us can’t compare. Self-described as a “skinny girl … a descendant of slaves,” she is able to perform on the same stage as Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez with a poise that captivated her audience.

Amanda also has the good sense to openly acknowledge that she would never be where she is without the help of her family, community, agencies and scholarships that supported her over the years. She is an obvious example of what can emerge when communities help those kids in need to realize their potential. Or, perhaps, she is an example of what we can hope to foster in our own children.

Her age places her in a generation of activists whose politics have been formed by Barack Obama and Donald Trump. It appears that she learned to emulate the former and avoid the qualities of the latter. Her comment that she wanted to run for president as soon as she was of age created such excitement that it was mentioned repeatedly in her interviews. The prospect of this sort of human being emerging as a political leader was almost too wonderful to imagine.

So, what does this phenomenon of Amanda Gorman tell us about America? What does the extraordinary reaction to her beautiful, inspiring words mean? I believe it tells us the same thing that the election of Joe Biden, by an overwhelming majority, has told us: Very simply, that the hope and goodness of America still exists.

As human beings, we are enlivened by kindness and by the humanity of one another. Joe Biden has repeatedly said that Americans are good people, and that despite everything we’ve been through our democracy has prevailed. Gorman explains that our nation is simply “unfinished” and asks us to “be” that light of hope.

In the past few weeks, we have come to face our flaws as a nation, but were also offered the hope that Donald Trump did not ruin us after all. Now our future will tell us if we are capable of realizing the hope offered by this new beginning.

Paula Angelone, Ph.D.

Southampton Village