Historical Context

Amanda Gorman’s poem “The Hill We Climb” maintained a strong focus on the injustices in America that became increasingly prevalent amid the social and political turmoils faced by the country. In a broad context, the poem encapsulated one of the most prominent issues in the United States: the fight for freedom and liberty. Throughout American history, oppressed groups, namely, minority communities, have struggled to gain societal acceptance and have often been shunned away from having the opportunity to express their beliefs, causing them to feel ostracized. In her speech, Gorman describes herself as a “skinny black girl who descended from slaves”, referencing the period in history where slavery was prominent. Shortly after the Civil War began the era of Reconstruction, which the whites in the South were heavily opposed to. They felt as though they were losing power, which they had maintained for a substantial period of time, and this further contributed to their feelings of hatred and discrimination towards the people who were finally being recognized. Eventually, Jim Crow laws were enacted, “[representing] a formal, codified system of racial apartheid that [...] affected almost every aspect of daily life, mandating segregation of schools, parks, libraries, drinking fountains…” (Jim Crow Laws). Taking into account the repercussions faced by victims of the Jim Crow laws that transcended generations, Amanda Gorman aimed to use her speech to highlight the importance of unity and embracing differences. In preparation for her recitation, Gorman also read several of the speeches delivered by other advocates of liberty and freedom, including that of President Abraham Lincoln, who wrote the Gettysburg Address to memorialize the sacrifices made by the Union soldiers and to stress the importance of maintaining America. Unlike many others during the time, Lincoln was cognizant of the social and economic disparities faced by formerly enslaved people, and used his platform to be a change maker of these issues that would have lasting implications on the progress of American society. Lastly, Gorman’s speech acknowledged the more recent events that molded American society; at the forefront was the coronavirus pandemic. In the wake of such an unprecedented, challenging time, Americans’ social and political views caused the country to become increasingly divided, and with the widespread use of media, tensions grew. Gorman channels this reality in her speech, alluding to the fact that the country has its bruises but can unify to create the change the nation deserves to see.