January 2025

Fury and Faith by Amanda Gorman

I recently heard on the radio Amanda Gorman reading a poem which I found very moving. It stimulated a great deal of thought and reflection about the world we live in. Shortly thereafter, the Supreme Court announced its stunning but not surprising decision that for the first time in anyone's memory the court took away rights that had existed for over 50 years. The reasoning behind the decision was such that it undermines the basis for great many other rights that have been established over the last hundred years. This is an assault on the social infrastructure of this country. In my mind it is akin to the opening salvo of artillery of Russia against Ukraine, clearly intended to lay waste to that country. This decision of the Supreme Court will law waste to our social infrastructure in a similar fashion. There are hard years ahead of us.

Amanda Gorman, is an American poet and activist. Her work focuses on issues of oppression, feminism, race, and marginalization, as well as the African diaspora. Gorman was the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate. She published the poetry book, " The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough," in 2015. In 2021, she delivered her poem "The Hill We Climb," at the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden.

Her inauguration poem generated international acclaim.

In March 2021, Amanda was interviewed by a local KPCC/LAist journalist, Julia Barajas.

Amanda's poem is available below and there is a YouTube video available where you can hear the poem

read by Amanda Gorman.

Fury and Faith

You will be told that this is not a problem,

Not your problem.

You will be told that now is not the time for change to begin;

Told that we cannot win.

But the point of protest isn't winning —

It's holding fast to the promise of freedom,

Even when fast victory is not promised,

Meaning we cannot stand up to police

If we cannot cease policing our own imagination,

Convincing our communities that this won't work

Before the work has even begun,

That this can wait,

When we've already waited out a thousand suns.

By now, we understand white supremacy

and the despair it demands

Are as destructive as any disease.

So when you're told that your rage is reactionary,

Remember that rage is our right.

It teaches us it is time to fight

in the face of injustice.

Not only is anger natural but necessary

Because it helps carry us to our destination.

Our goal has never been revenge, just restoration;