Amanda Gorman Honors Essential Workers In Her Touching Super Bowl Poem
"Today we honor our three captains for their actions and impact in a time of uncertainty and need."
Amanda Gorman, who became the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history last month, opened the Super Bowl LV by reciting an original poem honoring essential workers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specifically, Gorman referenced the work of Los Angeles educator Trimaine Davis, Tampa nurse manager Suzie Dorner, and Pittsburgh Marine veteran and charity volunteer James Martin, per Sports Illustrated. During the performance, she wore an embellished baby blue blazer by Moschino and jewelry by Mateo.
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"Today we honor our three captains for their actions and impact in a time of uncertainty and need," Gorman began the poem. "They’ve taken the lead, exceeding all expectations and limitations, uplifting their communities and neighbors as leaders, healers, and educators."
Watch her recite the full poem below.
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Before her performance aired, Gorman wrote on Twitter, "Poetry at the Super Bowl is a feat for art & our country, because it means we’re thinking imaginatively about human connection even when we feel siloed. I’ll honor 3 heroes who exemplify the best of this effort. Here’s to them, to poetry, & to a #SuperBowl like no other."
Gorman, the 22-year-old youth poet laureate, was recruited to perform at the Super Bowl after gaining national acclaim for "The Hill We Climb," an original piece that she recited for the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in January.
"I am the descendant of a slave, also named Amanda, who would’ve been severely punished for reading and writing," Gorman told Harper's BAZAAR for our 2020 October issue. "The fact that I can write and create with joy and audacity is a gift that I try to pay forward."
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This article originally appeared on Harper’s BAZAAR US