One of the highlights of this morning's inauguration was a powerful poem titled 'The Hill We Climb' read by a 22-year-old Harvard graduate from Los Angeles. Here's what you need to know about the author, Amanda Gorman.
She's became the first ever national youth poet laureate in 2017 and is just the sixth poet to read at a presidential inauguration, following in the footsteps of Maya Angelou and Robert Frost.
American poet Amanda Gorman reads a poem during the inauguration of Joe Biden. Source: AAP,AP / AAP/AP POOL
Ms Gorman was invited to read at the historic event on the suggestion of First Lady Jill Biden, who saw her perform at the Library of Congress in 2017.
Her poem struck an optimistic tone on the back of violent riots and racial injustice in the United States, as well as the coronavirus pandemic.
"When day comes, we step out of 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," she said.
Oprah Winfrey congratulated Ms Gorman on her reading, to which she responded: "I would be nowhere without the women whose footsteps I dance in."
"While reciting my poem, I wore a ring with a caged bird - a gift from Oprah for the occasion, to symbolise Maya Angelou, a previous inaugural poet.
"Here’s to the women who have climbed my hills before."
Former president Barack Obama also heaped praise on the 22-year-old, declaring her poem "more than met the moment".
"Young people like her are proof that 'there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it; if only we're brave enough to be it'," he said on Twitter.
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