The 59th Inauguration Was a Day of Empowerment for Black Women

Excellence! Front and center

American poet Amanda Gorman reads a poem during the 59th inaugural ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2021. Photo: Patrick Semansky-Pool/Getty Images

To all the Black women in America, whether old or young, I want you to know that we are bold, brave, and beautiful. Three Black queens— Vice President Kamala Harris, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman — reminded me of this truth on Inauguration Day.

As Obama arrived with her tall, burgundy jumpsuit, Twitter shrieked with excitement over her outfit. When Harris was announced as the first woman, and first Black and Asian-American vice president, we were all reminded of the fact that history was finally being made in America. While Gorman spoke her poetic words, she empowered other young girls to keep going, keep fighting, and never give up.

I just want to say thank you to these three Black women. Thank you for showing us that even though we live in a country that tries to put up blockades due to the color of our skin and our sex, we can still rise above the challenges. Gorman, thank you for reminding me to keep on writing. Not only is she the youngest known inaugural poet, but she also overcame a speech impediment that she wrestled with even as an undergraduate student at Harvard University.