A Florida school has implemented access restrictions for students to the acclaimed poem “The Hill We Climb,” which was recited by Amanda Gorman at President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Gorman, who was only 22 years old when she captivated the nation with her powerful performance on January 21, 2021, expressed her disappointment in a statement released late Tuesday.
She revealed that she was “gutted” by the decision to limit the reach of her work.
Taking to Twitter, Gorman shared, “Because of one parent’s complaint, my inaugural poem, ‘The Hill We Climb,’ has been banned from an elementary school in Miami-Dade County, Florida.”
She strongly condemned the move, asserting that depriving children of the opportunity to engage with literature was a violation of their fundamental rights to free thought and free speech.
The school at the center of the controversy, the Bob Graham Education Center, faced scrutiny after a mother of two students lodged a complaint against Gorman’s poem.
Consequently, the institution decided to prohibit the poem’s inclusion in the elementary school curriculum, relegating it to the library exclusively for children above the age of 11.
“The Hill We Climb” served as a poignant call for unity and hope in a divided America.
Gorman’s televised recitation during the inauguration, witnessed by an estimated 33.8 million viewers, propelled her into literary stardom.
Notably, her status was elevated further as she is a young Black woman who delivered her impassioned words in the aftermath of the polarizing presidency of Donald Trump.
The parent’s complaint, which Gorman shared, expressed objections to the poem, claiming that it lacked educational value and conveyed implicit messages of hate.
When asked if she was aware of professional reviews of the poem, the parent dismissively responded, “I don’t need it.”
Furthermore, she alleged that the poem’s intention was to “cause confusion and indoctrinate students.”
Reacting to the incident, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, emphasized President Biden’s pride in having Gorman participate in his inauguration.
Jean-Pierre unequivocally stated, “Banning books is censorship — period.”
Amanda Gorman holds the distinction of being the youngest poet ever to perform at a US presidential inauguration and is also recognized as the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate.
Interestingly, this recent restriction on Gorman’s poem comes on the heels of a lawsuit filed by publisher Penguin Random House and writers’ group PEN America against a Florida school district.
The legal action was taken in response to the removal of books from public school libraries that tackle topics related to race and LGBTQ issues.
