Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Amanda Gorman 'Gutted' After Florida School Bans Poem She Wrote For Biden's Inauguration

Amanda Gorman
Rob Carr/Getty Images

The young poet took to Twitter to express her frustration after Miami-Dade County Public Schools banned her poem 'The Hill We Climb' due to a single complaint from a parent.

A Florida school's decision to ban the poem The Hill We Climb, which Amanda Gorman recited at President Joe Biden's inauguration, has sparked widespread debate and condemnation.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools took action following a complaint from a single parent, leading to the removal of five titles, including Gorman's poem, from elementary schools. The ban has drawn criticism for disproportionately targeting works by queer and non-white authors.


A "gutted" Gorman herself expressed her disappointment and highlighted the alarming trend of book bans across America.

She posted the following statement to her Twitter account:

"I'm gutted." ...
"Book bans aren't new. But they have been on the rise. According to the ALA, 40% more books were challenged in 2022 compared to 2021. What's more, often all it takes to remove these works from our libraries and schools is a single objection."
"And let's be clear: most of the forbidden works are by authors who have struggled for generations to get on bookshelves. The majority of these censored works are by queer and non-white voices."

Gorman went on to note that she wrote The Hill We Climb "so that all young people could see themselves in a historical moment" and that she's received "countless letters and videos" from children who were inspired to write their own poems as a result.

Observing that it is a "violation" of "free thought and speech" to rob children "of the chance to find their voices in literature," she proposed the following actions:

"We must speak out and have our voices heard. That's why my publisher, Penguin Random House, joined PEN America, authors, and community members in a lawsuit in Florida's Escambia County to challenge book restrictions like these."
"To help, donate to and visit @PENAmerica and spread the word about these book bans."
"Together, this is a hill we won't just climb, but a hill we will conquer."

In a surprising revelation, Gorman shared a photo of the complaint form, which falsely attributed her poem to Black American TV host Oprah Winfrey.

The error highlighted the lack of understanding or research behind the parent's objection and the hasty decision to ban the poem without proper consideration.

The controversy began when a parent of two students at Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes objected to several titles available in the school library. The parent raised concerns about critical race theory, alleged "indirect hate messages," gender ideology, and indoctrination.

Consequently, The Hill We Climb was made accessible only to middle school students aged 11 to 14. Other titles, including The ABCs of Black History, Cuban Kids, Countries in the News: Cuba, and Love to Langston, were also included in the complaint.

Specifically, the complaint mentions pages 12 and 13 of The Hill We Climb, which include the following verses:

"We've braved the belly of the beast/We've learned that quiet isn't always peace/And the norms and notions of what "just is"/Isn't always justice."
"And yet the dawn is ours before we knew it./Somehow, we do it./Somehow, we've weathered and witnessed/A nation that isn't broken, but simply unfinished."

Many have thrown their support behind Gorman and expressed their love for the poem in light of the news.


Gorman's case is not an isolated incident.

According to PEN America, 175 books have already been removed from schools across Florida this year. The rise in book bans has raised concerns among advocates for free expression and diverse voices in literature.

Under the leadership of its Republican Governor Ron DeSantis—who just announced a 2024 presidential bid—the state has continued to backslide.

Recently, DeSantis signed legislation that prohibits the use of public funds by colleges for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and previously enacted the Stop WOKE Act, which restricts discussions of race in workplaces and schools during mandatory training or instruction.

Both moves have drawn scrutiny from advocates who've charged they curtail academic freedom and freedom of expression.

More from Trending

Screenshots from @culinaryem's TikTok video
@culinaryem/TikTok

Wedding Caterer Goes Viral For Her Reaction To Discovering Groom Was Having An Affair

It's easy to say that we would intervene if we realized that someone was cheating, but would we actually follow through when it happened?

That was the question chef, caterer, and TikToker @culinaryem faced when she planned to cater a wedding for a "lovely couple" she nicknamed "Sweet" (the bride) and "Dirtbag" (the groom).

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @dani_b_unfiltered's TikTok video
@dani_b_unfiltered/TikTok

Woman Hilariously Panics After She Accidentally Child-Locks Her Dinner In The Oven

We've all been "hangry" before and know how important that Snickers bar can be.

Or in TikToker @dani_b_unfiltered's case, it was a potato that was baking in the oven.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rob McElhenney
Gilbert Flores/ Variety/Getty Images

Rob McElhenney Just Shared A Video Explaining His 'Kinda Douchey' Decision To Legally Change His Name

What's in a name? A lot, apparently.

To be fair, a name represents a lot of things: a person's identity, the family they originate from, and possibly even some of the cultural and historical background of that family.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards aka Mr. Fantastic
Disney/Marvel Studios

Pedro Pascal Adjusts Accent

Pedro Pascal was advised to tone down the Mid-Atlantic accent for his upcoming role as the stretchy Mister Fantastic/Reed Richards in Fantastic Four: First Steps.

In a video interview with Vanity Fair, he reflected on his past and current work and talked about working with a dialect coach for the Marvel movie, which is set to premiere on July 25th.

Keep ReadingShow less
Country Singer Gavin Adcock went on a drunken rant over Beyonce's "Cowboy Carter" success.
Danielle Del Valle/Getty Images; Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Country singer rants over Beyoncé album

Country singer Gavin Adcock became the title of his next album, “Own Worst Enemy,” after going on an unhinged rant about the legitimacy of Beyoncé's Grammy-winning and record-breaking Cowboy Carter in the country music genre.

Adcock, whose upcoming album is set for release next month, was filmed during a live performance last weekend, complaining that Beyoncé and her album are not “country music.”

Keep ReadingShow less