Amanda Gorman is fast becoming a household name after she delivered a powerful inauguration poem at the US Capitol on Wednesday, challenging Americans to unify and “leave behind a country better than the one we were left.”
And if her words to the country weren’t incredible enough, the nation’s first-ever youth poet laureate has two books topping best seller lists – and they aren’t even expected to release until September 21.
“I AM ON THE FLOOR MY BOOKS ARE #1 & #2 ON AMAZON AFTER 1 DAY! Thank you so much to everyone for supporting me and my words. As Yeats put it: “For words alone are certain good: Sing, then,” she wrote on Twitter Wednesday evening.
Gorman, 22, is the writer of “The Hill We Climb: Poems,” and “Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem.” The titles are currently topping both Barnes & Noble and Amazon’s best sellers lists. The poem Gorman No. 1 on Amazon’s list.
The poet is joined by two other notable Black authors near the top of Amazon’s list: Meena Harris, Vice President Kamala Harris’ niece, takes the third spot with a children’s book titled, “Ambitious Girl” followed by “A Promised Land,” Former President Barack Obama’s memoir. Born and raised in Los Angeles by a single-mother and sixth-grade English teacher, Gorman started writing poems when she was a child, but found performing terrifying due to a speech impediment.
She overcame that fear by drawing confidence from former President Barack Obama and Martin Luther King Jr., and practicing songs from the Broadway musical “Hamilton.”
From celebrities to politicians, Gorman’s words resonated with many and praise on social media was not in short supply.
“Wasn’t @TheAmandaGorman’s poem just stunning?” She’s promised to run for president in 2036 and I for one can’t wait,” Hillary Clinton wrote on Twitter.
“I have never been prouder to see another young woman rise! Brava Brava, @TheAmandaGorman! Maya Angelou is cheering and so am I,” Oprah Winfrey said on Twitter. Winfrey gave Gorman a ring in the shape of a caged bird from New York-based brand Of Rare Origin (a tribute to African American poet Maya Angelou) and a pair of gold hoop earrings from Greek designer Nikos Koulis.
CNN’s Chandelis Duster and Allyssia Alleyne contributed to this report.
