Teach This Poem is a weekly series featuring a poem from our online poetry collection, accompanied by interdisciplinary resources and activities designed to help K-12 teachers quickly and easily bring poetry into the classroom. "In This Place" by Amanda Gorman is featured.
Inaugural Poets in History - Academy of American Poets
Five presidents have had poets read at their Presidential inaugurations, "John F. Kennedy in 1961, Bill Clinton in 1993 & 1997, Barack Obama in 2009 and 2013, and Joe Biden in 2021—had poets read at their inaugurations." The poets are Robert Frost, Maya Angelou, Miller Williams, Elizabeth Alexander, Richard Blanco, and Amanda Gorman. Check out their poems here.
Amanda Gorman, 22, was the youngest inaugural poet in the U.S. when she read her poem, "The Hill We Climb" at President Biden's inauguration. Gorman said that reciting poetry helped her overcome a speech impediment (Humphries).
“Amanda Gorman Reads Inauguration Poem, ‘The Hill We Climb.’” YouTube, uploaded by PBS NewsHour, 20 Jan. 2021, youtu.be/LZ055ilIiN4.
Humphries, Monica, Director. Amanda Gorman Used Poetry to Overcome Speech Impediment. Business Insider, 30 Mar. 2021, https://www.insider.com/amanda-gorman-used-poetry-to-overcome-speech-impediment-2021-3.
Library of Congress: Frequently Asked Questions about the six Inaugural Poets