Using your voice is a political choice | Amanda Gorman

Summary

In this inspiring talk, the speaker emphasizes the power and political nature of poetry as a medium for storytelling and change. Drawing on her heritage as a descendant of Black writers and freedom fighters, she shares her personal mantra for overcoming stage fright and the importance of speaking up. She challenges the notion of apolitical art, asserting that all art is inherently political and that poetry, in particular, serves as a bridge connecting individuals to larger societal issues. By honoring the legacy of influential poets, she encourages finding one's unique voice and using it to ask important questions about democracy and humanity.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding one's roots and the legacy of those who came before, especially in the context of poetry and storytelling.
• 💪 The personal mantra of the speaker, highlighting lineage and strength, serves as a source of empowerment and a tool to overcome fear and speech impediments.
• 🎭 Public speaking is portrayed as a daunting task for the speaker, despite their outward appearance of confidence, and the use of a mantra is a method to calm nerves.
• 🗣️ The realization that silence due to fear does not serve any cause, and the decision to speak up is a political act in itself.
• 🌉 Poetry is described as a bridge rather than a barrier, accessible and expressive to all, with the power to connect people and ideas.
• 🏛️ The political nature of poetry is underscored, with the argument that all art is inherently political due to the choices made in its creation and dissemination.
• 📖 The significance of storytelling is highlighted, with the speaker asserting that who gets to tell their stories and how these stories are told reflects societal and political structures.
• 🔍 The speaker calls attention to the historical targeting of poets and creatives by oppressive regimes, indicating the perceived threat that poetry and expression pose to the status quo.
• 🌟 The potential of poetry to inspire change and connect individual beliefs with collective movements is celebrated as a powerful force in shaping society.
• 🤔 The speaker encourages questioning and challenging the status quo through poetry, rather than seeking definitive answers, emphasizing the importance of asking the right questions.
• 🌱 The final message is one of hope and potential, with the speaker expressing gratitude for those who have paved the way and a commitment to continue the tradition of impactful storytelling.

Q & A

What are the two questions the speaker begins their poetry workshops with?

The two questions are: 'Whose shoulders do you stand on?' and 'What do you stand for?'

How does the speaker describe their relationship to Black writers and Freedom Fighters?

The speaker identifies as the daughter of Black writers who are descended from Freedom Fighters, emphasizing a lineage of individuals who broke their chains and changed the world.

What is the purpose of the speaker's mantra before every poetry performance?

The mantra serves as a way for the speaker to gather themselves and strengthen their resolve, especially in the face of the fear of public speaking.

Why was the speaker initially terrified of speaking up?

The speaker had a speech impediment that made it difficult to pronounce certain letters and sounds, causing worry about their words jumbling and stumbling when on stage.

What realization did the speaker have about the importance of speaking out despite fear?

The speaker realized that choosing not to speak out of fear meant there was no one their silence was standing for, and thus they must find the strength to speak up.

What does the speaker mean by 'honorary ancestors' in the context of their mantra?

Honorary ancestors are individuals who may not be related by blood but are worth acknowledging for the legacy they left, as the speaker stands on their shoulders metaphorically.

How does the speaker view the role of poetry in society?

The speaker sees poetry as a powerful, accessible, and political form of expression that serves as a bridge between individuals and ideas, rather than a barrier.

What are the three ways the speaker describes poetry as being political?

The three ways are: 1) The stories we tell and how we tell them reflect our political beliefs; 2) Who gets to have their stories told speaks to the political and educational systems; 3) Poetry's focus on people and the potential to connect private beliefs with public causes.

Why does the speaker argue that all art is political?

The speaker argues that the decision to create, the choice to have a voice, and the act of being heard are inherently political acts.

How does the speaker respond to requests to write poetry that is not political?

The speaker resists such requests, asserting that poetry is inherently political and that avoiding political content would mean not asking challenging questions in their work.

What message does the speaker hope to convey about the power and purpose of poetry?

The speaker hopes to convey that poetry has the power to ask important questions, connect people, and inspire change, and that it is a medium through which one can stand for something meaningful.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Finding Strength Through Ancestry and Mantras

The speaker begins by posing two significant questions to their audience: 'Whose shoulders do you stand on?' and 'What do you stand for?' These questions help frame their poetry workshops. They share a personal mantra honoring their heritage as the daughter of Black writers descended from freedom fighters, which they recite before performing. The speaker reveals their fear of public speaking and past struggles with a speech impediment, which initially made them hesitant to speak up. They emphasize the importance of finding strength to speak out, connecting to 'honorary ancestors' who, though not related by blood, provide a foundation to stand on. This support reveals the power of poetry to transcend barriers and build connections, making it a potent and political art form.

05:02

✊ The Political Nature of Poetry

The speaker discusses the inherently political nature of poetry, challenging the notion that poetry should be apolitical. They argue that all art is political, as the act of creation and expression itself is political. They outline three ways poetry is political: the choice of stories told, who gets to tell their stories, and the role of poetry in connecting individuals to larger political movements. Historical examples are given, showing how tyrants often target poets and creatives. The speaker emphasizes that poetry is central to democratic discourse and social change, highlighting its role in protests and significant historical moments. They underscore the importance of asking the right questions through poetry, paying homage to those who paved the way for future generations to continue telling impactful stories.

Keywords

💡Poetry

Poetry is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of language to evoke emotions, ideas, or tell a story. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the power of poetry as a means of expression and political commentary, illustrating its role in connecting individuals to broader societal issues and the historical legacy of those who have used poetry to challenge the status quo.

💡Mantra

A mantra is a word or phrase that is repeated to aid concentration during meditation or as a form of self-affirmation. The speaker uses a personal mantra to gather strength and confidence before poetry performances, highlighting its significance in overcoming fear and public speaking anxiety, and as a way to connect with her ancestral lineage.

💡Speech Impediment

A speech impediment refers to a disorder of speech that affects the fluency, pronunciation, or rhythm of speech. The speaker mentions her past struggle with a speech impediment, which made her feel self-conscious about speaking in public, and how she overcame this to find her voice through poetry.

💡Freedom Fighters

Freedom Fighters are individuals who have fought against oppression or injustice to achieve freedom and equality. The video's speaker identifies as a descendant of such fighters, using this term to emphasize the historical struggle and resilience of her ancestors, which informs her own stance and use of poetry as a form of resistance and empowerment.

💡Political

In the context of the video, 'political' refers to matters relating to the governance of a nation or area, particularly the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or seeking power. The speaker argues that all art, including poetry, is inherently political due to the choices made in its creation and the messages it conveys about societal values and power dynamics.

💡Accessibility

Accessibility in this context refers to the ease with which poetry can be understood and enjoyed by a wide audience. The speaker discusses the openness of poetry as a language of the people, emphasizing that while not everyone may become a poet, anyone can appreciate and be moved by poetry, which makes it a powerful tool for communication and connection.

💡Ancestry

Ancestry pertains to the descent from a particular ancestor or lineage. The speaker uses the concept of ancestry to draw a connection between herself and the 'honorary ancestors' who have influenced her work and perspective, thereby acknowledging the influence of those who have shaped her identity and worldview.

💡Protest

A protest is a public expression of objection to a policy or course of action. The video references protests as a context where poetry can be found, such as in slogans or quotes on posters, demonstrating the intersection of poetry with activism and the role of art in voicing dissent and rallying support.

💡Democracy

Democracy is a system of government where power is vested in the people, who exercise it directly or elect representatives to do so. The speaker encourages the audience to consider the role of poetry in the context of democratic values and questions, suggesting that poetry can serve as a medium for exploring and challenging societal norms and expectations.

💡Language Arts

Language Arts encompass the study, development, and use of language, including reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The speaker mentions that tyrants often target language arts, including poetry, as a means of control, indicating the perceived threat that the power of language and expression poses to oppressive regimes.

💡Courage

Courage is the ability to do something that frightens one; bravery. The speaker contrasts courage with fear, choosing to speak out of courage rather than silence out of fear, which is a central theme in the video. By doing so, she emphasizes the importance of using one's voice, even in the face of intimidation or adversity.

Highlights

The speaker begins poetry workshops with two questions: 'Whose shoulders do you stand on?' and 'What do you stand for?'

Poetry is sometimes viewed as a dead art form for old white men, but the speaker aims to challenge this perception.

The speaker identifies as the daughter of Black writers and freedom fighters, emphasizing the importance of ancestry in her work.

A mantra is used by the speaker to gather strength before poetry performances, highlighting the fear of public speaking.

The speaker discusses overcoming a speech impediment and the fear it brought to her stage presence.

A realization that silence due to fear means no one is represented by that silence motivates the speaker to find her voice.

The concept of 'honorary ancestors' is introduced as individuals who have influenced the speaker, even if not by blood.

Poetry is described as the language of people, not barriers, and inherently political in nature.

The speaker argues that all art, including poetry, is political due to the choices made in creation and expression.

Three ways poetry is political are outlined: the stories told, who gets to tell them, and the focus on people.

The historical targeting of poets and creatives by tyrants is cited as evidence of poetry's political power.

The speaker encourages the audience to recognize poetry's central role in political discourse and democracy.

Examples of poetic language in protests, historical speeches, and iconic American symbols are given.

The impossibility of writing a poem that is not political is discussed, as poetry inherently asks challenging questions.

The speaker pays homage to those who have influenced her, using their strength to overcome personal fears.

The importance of telling unique stories that matter is emphasized, regardless of whether they have been told before.

The speaker concludes by celebrating the power of poetry to connect individuals and ignite change.

Transcripts

I have two questions for you.

One: whose shoulders do you stand on?

And two: what do you stand for?

These are two questions that I always begin my poetry workshops with students

because at times, poetry can seem like this dead art form

for old white men who just seem like they were born to be old,

like, you know, Benjamin Button or something.

And I ask my students these two questions, and then I share how I answer them,

which is in these three sentences that go:

I am the daughter of Black writers,

who are descended from Freedom Fighters

who broke their chains and changed the world.

They call me.

And these are words I repeat in a mantra before every single poetry performance.

In fact, I was doing it in the corner over there. I was making faces.

And so I repeat them to myself, as a way to gather myself,

because I'm not sure if you know, but public speaking is pretty terrifying.

I know I'm on stage, and I have my heels, and I look all glam,

but I'm horrified.

And the way in which I kind of strengthen myself,

is by having this mantra.

Most of my life I was particularly terrified of speaking up,

because I had a speech impediment,

which made it difficult to pronounce certain letters, sounds,

and I felt like I was fine writing on the page, but once I got on stage,

I was worried my words might jumble and stumble.

What was the point in trying not to mumble these thoughts in my head,

if everything's already been said before?

But finally I had a moment of realization, where I thought,

if I choose not to speak out of fear,

then there's no one that my silence is standing for.

And so I came to realize that I cannot stand standing to the side,

standing silent.

I must find the strength to speak up,

and one of the ways I do that is through this mantra where I call back

to what I call honorary ancestors.

These are people who might not be related to you by blood,

or by birth,

but who are more than worth saying their names,

because you stand on their shoulders all the same.

And it's only from the height of these shoulders

that we might have the sight to see the mighty power of poetry,

the power of language made accessible, expressible.

Poetry is interesting because not everyone is going to become

a great poet,

but anyone can be, and anyone can enjoy poetry,

and it's this openness,

this accessibility of poetry that makes it the language of people.

Poetry has never been the language of barriers,

it's always been the language of bridges.

And it's this connection- making that makes poetry,

yes, powerful, but also makes it political.

One of the things that irritates me to no end,

is when I get that phone call, and it's usually from a white man,

and he's like, "Man, Amanda, we love your poetry,

we'd love to get you to write a poem about this subject,

but don't make it political."

Which to me sounds like,

I have to draw a square, but not make it a rectangle,

or build a car and not make it a vehicle,

it doesn't make much sense,

because all art is political.

The decision to create, the artistic choice to have a voice,

the choice to be heard is the most political act of all.

And by "political" I mean poetry is political in at least three ways:

One: what stories we tell, when we're telling them,

how we're telling them, if we're telling them,

why we're telling them, says so much about

the political beliefs we have,

about what types of stories matter.

Secondly, who gets to have their stories told,

I'm talking, who is legally allowed to read,

who has the resources to be able to write,

who are we reading in our classrooms,

says a lot about the political and educational systems,

that all these stories and storytellers exist in.

Lastly, poetry is political because it's preoccupied

with people.

If you look at history, notice that tyrants often go

after the poets and the creatives first.

They burn books, they try to get rid of poetry and the language arts,

because they're terrified of them.

Poets have this phenomenal potential to connect the beliefs

of the private individual with the cause of change of the public, the population,

the polity, the political movement.

And when you leave here,

I really want you to try to hear the ways in which poetry is actually at the center

of our most political questions about what it means to be a democracy.

Maybe later you're going to be at a protest,

and someone's going to have a poster that says,

"They buried us, but they didn't know we were seeds."

That's poetry.

You might be in your U.S. History class, and your teacher may play a video

of Martin Luther King Jr. saying:

"We will be able to hew out of this mountain of despair a stone of hope."

That's poetry.

Or maybe even here, in New York City,

you're going to go visit the Statue of Liberty

where there's a sonnet that declares, as Americans,

"Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free."

So you see, when someone asks me to write a poem that's not political,

what they're really asking me is to not ask charged and challenging questions

in my poetic work, and that does not work,

because poetry is always at the pulse

of the most dangerous and most daring questions that a nation or a world might face.

What path do we stand on as a people,

and what future as a people do we stand for?

And the thing about poetry is that it's not really about having the right answers,

it's about asking these right questions,

about what it means to be a writer doing right by your words and your actions,

and my reaction is to pay honor to those shoulders of people

who used their pens to roll over boulders

so I might have a mountain of hope on which to stand,

so that I might understand the power of telling stories

that matter no matter what.

So that I might realize that if I choose, not out of fear,

but out of courage, to speak,

then there's something unique that my words can become.

And all of a sudden that fear that my words might jumble and stumble

go away as I'm humbled by the thoughts

of thousands of stories a long time coming

that I know are strumming inside me as I celebrate

those people in their time who stood up so this little Black girl could rhyme

as I celebrate and call their names all the same,

these people who seem like they were just born to be bold:

Maya Angelou, Ntozake Shange,

Phillis Wheatley, Lucille Clifton,

Gwendolyn Brooks, Joan Wicks,

Audre Lorde, and so many more.

It might feel like every story has been told before,

but the truth is, no one's ever told my story in the way I would tell it,

as the daughter of black writers, who are descended from freedom fighters

who broke their chains and changed the world.

They call me.

I call them.

And one day I'll write a story right,

by writing it into a tomorrow on this Earth more than worth standing for.

Thank you.