Embracing Our Colors: Amanda Gorman's Ode to Girls of Color

Amanda Gorman, an influential poet and activist, is widely recognized for her powerful voice in advocating for social justice and empowerment, particularly among girls of color. At the young age of 22, she has already made a significant impact as the first Youth Poet Laureate of the United States and continues to inspire others through her art and activism.

Gorman's poem "At the Age of 18 – Ode to Girls of Color" explores themes of identity, self-discovery, and the journey to embrace one's true self. Through vivid imagery and emotional depth, she reflects on her own experiences and the shared struggles of girls of color, positioning their color not as a warning but as a welcome, emphasizing their power and courage.

"At the age of 18, I finally realized that my color is not a warning sign, but a welcome one."

This powerful statement sets the tone for a poem that redefines what it means to be a girl of color in today's world. Gorman's words resonate deeply, speaking to the experiences of countless young women who have felt overlooked or undervalued due to their skin color.

Gorman uses the metaphor of a flower to illustrate the often-overlooked beauty of girls of color:

"People watch flowers bloom, but forget we do too."

This line reminds us of the importance of recognizing and nurturing the potential in every young woman of color. Gorman emphasizes that their growth and blossoming are just as worthy of attention and celebration as any natural wonder.

Through her words, Amanda Gorman reminds us that empowering girls of color is not just about addressing inequalities – it's about celebrating the unique perspectives, strengths, and contributions they bring to our world. Her poem serves as both a rallying cry and a love letter to girls of color everywhere, encouraging them to stand tall, shine bright, and embrace the full spectrum of their identities.

At the Age of 18 – Ode to Girls of Color

At the age of 5 

I saw how we always pick the flower swelling with the most color. 

The color distinguishes it from the rest, and tells us: 

This flower should not be left behind. 

But this does not happen in the case of colored girls. 

Our color makes hands pull back, and we, left to grow alone, 

stretching our petals to a dry sun. 

At the age of 12 

I blinked in the majesty of the color within myself, 

blinded by the knowledge that a skinny black girl, a young brown teen, 

has the power to light Los Angeles all night, 

the radiance to heal all the scars left on this city’s pavement. 

Why had this realization taken so long, 

When color pulses in all that is beauty and painting and human? 

You see, long ago, they told me 

that snakes and spiders have spots and vibrant bodies if they are poisonous. 

In other words, being of color meant danger, warning, ‘do not touch’. 

At the age of 18 

I know my color is not warning, but a welcome. 

A girl of color is a lighthouse, an ultraviolet ray of power, potential, and promise

My color does not mean caution, it means courage 

my dark does not mean danger, it means daring, 

my brown does not mean broken, it means bold backbone from working 

twice as hard to get half as far. 

Being a girl of color means I am key, path, and wonder all in one body. 

At the age of 18 

I am experiencing how black and brown can glow. 

And glow I will, glow we will, vibrantly, colorfully; 

not as a warning, but as promise, 

that we will set the sky alight with our magic. 

—Amanda Gorman