THE HILL WE CLIMB

During the Inaugural ceremony of Joe Biden last week, the nation and world were introduced to the nation's Young Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman. Ms. Gorman recited a new poem that she was inspired to write after the Republican-led insurrection of the Capitol on January 6th entitled, "The Hill We Climb." You can watch it here.

In this five minute address, Ms. Gorman tells the story of America and how we are an unfinished project. This interview provides some background about the 22 year-old Ms. Gorman and what inspired her to write, "The Hill We Climb." She provides an aspirational view of how we can break through from hatred, division, and the past. First, and foremost, it starts will an acknowledgment of our history and a willingness to confront the injustices of the past as we seek to make a more perfect union. She closes with a stirring line that I, myself, have often thought of and phrased in my own way. My version goes like this, "Sometimes when it is dark, we cannot wait for the light to come. Sometimes, we must be that light for all those around us living in darkness. Her version is even more poignant, and I leave you with those words:

When day comes we step outside the shade,

aflame and unafraid

The new dawn blooms as we free it,

For there is always light,

if only we're brave enough to see it,

if only we're brave enough to be it.