Amanda Gorman: Using your voice is a political choice | TED

Summary

In this thought-provoking speech, the speaker explores the power of poetry, its political significance, and the personal journey of overcoming a fear of public speaking. They highlight the importance of honoring the past, particularly the struggles of Black writers and freedom fighters, and emphasize the need to ask bold, challenging questions. The speaker shares their mantra of empowerment, illustrating how poetry can be a bridge that connects people, challenges systems, and expresses powerful, transformative stories. Ultimately, the speech calls for courage, creative expression, and the enduring influence of language.

Takeaways

• 📚 Poetry is often seen as a dead art form, but it remains powerful and accessible to all.
• 👣 The speaker introduces two key questions for their poetry workshops: 'Whose shoulders do you stand on?' and 'What do you stand for?'
• 🗣️ Despite their fear of public speaking due to a speech impediment, the speaker finds strength through a personal mantra connecting to their heritage.
• ✊ The speaker stands on the shoulders of Black writers and freedom fighters, drawing power from their legacy.
• 🎤 Poetry is political because it deals with whose stories are told, who gets to tell them, and why certain stories matter.
• 💪 The act of creating and having a voice is inherently political, especially in challenging systems of power.
• 🌉 Poetry serves as a bridge between people, connecting personal beliefs to broader societal change.
• 📜 Throughout history, tyrants target poets and creatives first, fearing the transformative power of language and expression.
• ❓ Poetry isn’t about providing answers but about asking important, challenging questions that resonate with societal struggles.
• 📝 The speaker honors a lineage of powerful Black poets and reminds us that every story has value, especially when told from a unique perspective.

Q & A

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

The speaker begins their workshops by asking, 'Whose shoulders do you stand on?' and 'What do you stand for?'

Why does the speaker use a mantra before poetry performances?

The speaker uses a mantra to gather herself and find strength, especially because she finds public speaking terrifying despite her outward appearance of confidence.

How does the speaker view poetry in relation to accessibility?

The speaker believes that while not everyone will become a great poet, anyone can enjoy poetry, and its accessibility makes it a language for people and a bridge between different communities.

What political significance does the speaker attribute to art and poetry?

The speaker argues that all art is political, emphasizing that the choice to create, to have a voice, and to be heard is inherently a political act.

Why does the speaker get frustrated when asked to write non-political poetry?

The speaker finds it illogical because poetry, by its nature, reflects political realities through the stories it tells, who gets to tell them, and the people it represents.

What historical significance does the speaker attribute to poets in political movements?

The speaker notes that tyrants often target poets and creatives first because they are powerful voices of change that connect individual beliefs to public movements.

What does the speaker mean by 'honorary ancestors'?

The speaker refers to influential figures who may not be related by blood but whose legacy and actions shape the world, inspiring others to stand on their metaphorical shoulders.

How does the speaker's personal experience with a speech impediment shape her views on public speaking and poetry?

The speaker shares that her speech impediment made her fear public speaking, but she realized that staying silent out of fear would mean standing for nothing, which motivated her to find the courage to speak.

What examples does the speaker provide to illustrate how poetry is woven into public life and political history?

The speaker gives examples such as protest signs with poetic phrases, Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches, and the sonnet inscribed on the Statue of Liberty as instances where poetry plays a role in public and political discourse.

What is the speaker’s final message about the power of storytelling and poetry?

The speaker emphasizes that although it may seem like every story has been told, no one can tell her story in the way she can, and she draws strength from those who came before her, honoring their legacy by using her own voice to create change.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 Standing on Shoulders and Finding Your Voice

The speaker opens by asking two important questions: 'Whose shoulders do you stand on?' and 'What do you stand for?' These questions guide her poetry workshops, helping students realize the power of poetry. She shares her own personal mantra, which honors her ancestors—descendants of freedom fighters—allowing her to gather strength before each performance. She reflects on her fear of public speaking, stemming from a speech impediment, and how embracing her voice and heritage helped her overcome that fear. The mantra reminds her to speak up, as silence would mean standing for nothing.

05:01

📝 The Power and Accessibility of Poetry

The speaker emphasizes the openness and accessibility of poetry, describing it as a language that connects people. Poetry isn't about exclusivity; anyone can enjoy and engage with it. She also discusses the political nature of poetry, highlighting how it challenges societal norms. Art, including poetry, is inherently political because it reflects choices, voices, and stories that matter. The speaker mentions how some people try to depoliticize poetry, which she finds nonsensical, as all artistic expression involves some degree of political engagement.

🚩 The Political Nature of Poetry

The speaker elaborates on the political dimension of poetry, explaining that poetry intersects with politics in three ways: the stories being told, who gets to tell them, and how they relate to people's lives. She highlights how historical tyrants have often targeted poets and writers, fearing their potential to inspire change. Poetry can serve as a bridge between private beliefs and public action, and the speaker encourages the audience to recognize poetry’s role in shaping democratic ideals and challenging oppressive systems.

📜 Honoring the Legacy of Poets

In the final part, the speaker reflects on the legacy of poets who came before her, mentioning several notable figures such as Maya Angelou, Lucille Clifton, and others. She emphasizes that while many stories have been told before, her unique voice still matters. By acknowledging the contributions of these past poets, she finds strength and courage to tell her own story. She concludes by stating that poetry is about asking the right questions and standing for something greater, paving the way for future generations to write their stories.

Keywords

💡Shoulders

In the context of the script, 'shoulders' symbolizes the support and foundation provided by ancestors and predecessors. The speaker refers to standing on the shoulders of those who came before, particularly 'black writers' and 'freedom fighters,' emphasizing the idea of honoring and continuing their legacy. This concept connects to the broader theme of cultural and historical inheritance in creative expression.

💡Mantra

The 'mantra' refers to a repeated phrase or series of phrases the speaker uses to gather strength before public speaking. The mantra—'I am the daughter of black writers descended from freedom fighters'—is deeply personal and symbolic, serving as both a source of courage and a reminder of the speaker’s heritage and responsibility. It ties into the theme of empowerment through self-affirmation and connection to history.

💡Political

The term 'political' in this context refers to the inherent nature of art, particularly poetry, as a tool for expressing and challenging societal beliefs and structures. The speaker argues that all art is political because it involves choices about what stories to tell and who gets to tell them. The script emphasizes that the act of creating and sharing poetry is an inherently political act, particularly when it addresses social justice and inequality.

💡Freedom fighters

'Freedom fighters' refers to those who struggled for liberation and equality, particularly in the context of African American history. The speaker connects themselves to this lineage, identifying with ancestors who 'broke their chains and changed the world.' This term reinforces the speaker's message about standing up against oppression and using creative expression as a form of resistance.

💡Speech impediment

A 'speech impediment' is a physical difficulty in producing speech sounds. The speaker shares a personal story about having a speech impediment, which made public speaking daunting. Overcoming this challenge becomes a metaphor for finding the courage to speak out, reinforcing the theme of overcoming personal and societal barriers through self-expression.

💡Tyrants

'Tyrants' are authoritarian figures who often oppress people by limiting freedom of expression. The speaker notes that throughout history, tyrants have targeted poets and creatives, as they recognize the power of language to inspire and mobilize people. This concept illustrates poetry’s potential as a force for social change and its role in resisting oppression.

💡Accessibility

'Accessibility' in the script refers to poetry’s ability to be understood and appreciated by all people, regardless of background or education. The speaker argues that poetry is 'the language of the people,' accessible to anyone, making it a democratic form of expression. This notion connects to the theme of poetry’s inclusive nature and its ability to bridge divides.

💡Honorary ancestors

'Honorary ancestors' refers to influential figures who are not related by blood but whose contributions and legacies are significant enough to be considered spiritual or cultural forebears. The speaker refers to writers like Maya Angelou and Phyllis Wheatley as their honorary ancestors, recognizing the impact of their work on shaping future generations. This term connects to the theme of honoring past generations through creative work.

💡Stories

The term 'stories' refers to narratives that reflect individual and collective experiences. The speaker highlights the importance of telling stories, especially those that challenge dominant narratives or reflect marginalized voices. The power of storytelling in poetry is emphasized as both a political and creative act, essential for representing diverse experiences and fostering empathy.

💡Fear

'Fear' is a recurring theme in the script, particularly in the context of public speaking and self-expression. The speaker discusses the fear of speaking up due to a speech impediment and the fear of sharing one’s voice. However, they argue that choosing to remain silent out of fear means surrendering the opportunity to contribute to meaningful change. Overcoming fear is presented as essential to using one's voice for justice.

Highlights

The speaker opens by asking two powerful questions: Whose shoulders do you stand on, and what do you stand for?

The speaker uses these questions in poetry workshops to challenge the perception of poetry as an old, irrelevant art form.

She shares a personal mantra that honors her lineage: 'I am the daughter of Black writers descended from freedom fighters who broke their chains and changed the world.'

The speaker reveals that public speaking terrifies her, despite her confident stage appearance, and how her mantra helps her gather strength.

Growing up with a speech impediment, she was often afraid to speak, fearing her words would jumble or stumble, but eventually realized that silence is also a choice.

She emphasizes the importance of speaking up, recognizing that her silence would stand for nothing.

She introduces the concept of 'honorary ancestors' — people not related by blood but whose shoulders we stand on in spirit and influence.

Poetry, for her, is the language of bridges, not barriers, and has the unique power to connect people.

She expresses frustration when people ask her to write poetry that isn't 'political,' arguing that all art is inherently political.

The speaker outlines three ways in which poetry is political: the stories we tell, who gets to tell them, and poetry’s focus on people.

Poets and creatives are often targeted by tyrants because of the transformative power their work holds in challenging authority.

She connects poetry to democracy, highlighting how it prompts essential questions about freedom, justice, and societal values.

The speaker gives examples of poetry's role in social and political movements, such as protest signs and historical speeches.

She argues that poetry is about asking the right questions, not necessarily having the right answers, and that the power of storytelling lies in its uniqueness.

She closes by honoring the legacy of Black female poets who paved the way, stating that while many stories have been told, no one can tell her story the way she can.

Transcripts

[Music]

[Applause]

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 like old

white men who just seem like they were

born to be old like you know

benjamin button or something and i asked

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 were

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 like doing it in the corner over

there i was like making faces um

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

um i know i'm on stage and i have my

heels

i look all glam but i'm horrified um

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

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 the 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 accessible 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 people poetry has

never been the language 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 like 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 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 so so much about

the political beliefs we have about

what types of stories matter secondly

who gets to have those 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 in history notice that

tyrants often go after the poets and the

creatives first they burn

books they try to get rid of poetry in

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

on 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 gonna 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 you're tired you're 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 the most

daring questions that a nation

or 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 use those pens

to roll over boulder 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 my 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 vine

as i celebrate and call their names all

the same these people

who seemed like they were just born to

be bold

maya angelou and ozaki shanghai phyllis

wheatley

lucille clifton gwendolyn brooks joan

wicks audrey lord 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

were 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 tomorrow on this

earth

more than worth standing for