Amanda Gorman on what it means to be an American | 60 Minutes
In a Nutshell
Amanda Gorman defines being American as stepping into and repairing the past, healing history, recovering from it, and holding oneself accountable to be the best version possible—especially informed by her descent from slaves, which underscores that freedom, equity, and liberty must be fought for, protected, and cherished for all. Her role as an American involves loving her own freedom while defending it for others, remembering yesterday, and walking proudly into tomorrow. This reflection follows her reading "The Hill We Climb" at Joe Biden's inauguration.
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Amanda Gorman was 22 when she read her poem The Hill We Climb at Joe Biden's inauguration. As the nation celebrates 250 years of independence, Gorman was asked, "What does it mean to be an American?"
Gorman's Response on Being American
When I think about what it means to be an American, I truly believe it's more than a pride we inherit. It's the past we step into and how we repair it. Meaning that being an American is more than just remembering our history. It's how we heal it. It's how we recover. It's how we hold ourselves accountable to being the best that we can be.
Part of Gorman's American story is being someone who's descended from slaves. This informs her Americanhood by teaching that freedom, equity, liberty are not just things we can take for granted. They must be fought for, protected, and cherished.
Her rights and role and responsibility as an American is both to love her own freedom, but to love and defend it for other people as well. It's to remember yesterday and always walk pridefully into tomorrow.
John Worerheim. We'll be back next week with another edition of 60 Minutes.
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