Amanda Gorman, National Youth Poet Laureate, to recite poem before Super Bowl LV

Amanda Gorman is the first-ever youth poet laureate of the United States. After her wildly successful poetry recitation at President Joe Biden's inauguration, she signed on with IMG Models, the same modeling agency as Gigi and Bella Hadid. Now, she is all set to recite another original poem before Super Bowl LV. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the news on Wednesday this week. Her poem will highlight three individuals the NFL wishes to recognize as honorary captains at the Super Bowl "who served as leaders in their respective communities during the global pandemic." Gorman's recitation, similar to the Super Bowl, will be aired nationally, CNN reports.

Her recitation will take place at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. She will highlight the contributions and lives of three honorary captains, including educator Trimaine Davis, nurse manager Suzie Dorner, and veteran James Martin. The three captains will then participate in a coin toss ceremony. NFL Commissioner Goodell affirmed in a statement, "We are honored to recognize these three individuals who represent the best in all of us. During this incredibly challenging time in our lives, Trimaine, Suzie, and James have exemplified the essence of leadership, each in their own way. We are grateful for their commitment and proud to share their stories and recognize them during this special moment on Super Bowl Sunday."

Gorman grabbed the nation's attention and received much acclaim following her appearance at President Biden's inauguration. She frequently draws from current political events in order to write her poetry. This was evident in the recitation of her poem The Hill We Climb at Biden's inauguration. She spoke passionately about the desperate need for social reform: "We learned that quiet isn't always peace, and the norms and notions of what 'just is' isn't always justice." Therefore, it will be interesting to see what she recites at the Super Bowl, the flagship game of the NFL, an institution criticized for its systemic racism by none other than civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick. Nevertheless, this season, Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV on February 7.

The national youth poet laureate was born and raised in Los Angeles by a single mother and sixth-grade English teacher. She first began writing when she was a young child. However, her speech impediment made it difficult for her to perform; she was terrified. Nonetheless, she overcame her fear of performing in public by drawing confidence from former President Barack Obama and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. She also practiced songs from the hit Broadway musical Hamilton. Now, her art and activism focus on issues of oppression, feminism, race, and marginalization, as well as the African diaspora. She published the poetry book The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough in 2015, and was inspired to become a youth delegate for the United Nations in 2013 after watching a speech by Pakistani Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.