A primary school in Miami-Dade County has withdrawn Amanda Gorman poetic masterpiece, “The Hill We Climb,” from circulation due to a complaint from a concerned parent who alleged the presence of indirect “hate messages.” Gorman, a 25-year-old prodigy who rose to national prominence following her recitation of the poem at President Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration, took to Twitter on Tuesday to vehemently oppose the banning of her work.
Expressing profound disappointment, the acclaimed poet conveyed her belief that censored books often originate from individuals who have endured generations of struggle to secure their rightful place on bookshelves, with a significant number of them belonging to marginalized communities encompassing queer and non-white voices. Gorman’s intention in crafting “The Hill We Climb” was to offer young people an opportunity to identify with a pivotal moment in history. She has since inundated with countless letters and videos from inspired children who have embarked on their own poetic journeys. Making it evident that denying children the chance to discover their own voices. Within literature is a flagrant violation of their fundamental rights to free thought and free speech.
Representative Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) rallied behind Amanda Gorman. Showcasing solidarity by quoting from the recently banned opus, “The Hill We Climb.” Frost resolutely proclaimed, “While democracy may face temporary setbacks, it can never permanently overcome.” He further asserted, “We shall persist and triumph.”
According to official documents released by the Florida Freedom to Read Project, as initially reported by The Miami Herald. Book withdrawn from circulation at K-8 Bob Graham Education Center Miami Lakes subsequent to a parental complaint lodged in March. The concerned parent contended that the book lacked educational value and contained subtle, hate-filled undertones. Furthermore, this same individual filed grievances against four additional books: “The ABCs of Black History,” “Cuban Kids,” “Countries in the News: Cuba,” and “Love to Langston,” alleging “indoctrination” and invoking the controversial term “CRT” (Critical Race Theory). Strikingly, the complaint mistakenly attributed authorship of “The Hill We Climb” to the esteemed Oprah Winfrey.
Just last week, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida signed into law a comprehensive set of educational regulations. One of which necessitates schools to promptly withdraw challenged books within five days of receiving a complaint. Pending a thorough evaluation to determine whether the materials should permanently prohibited. It is widely anticipated that Governor DeSantis will announce his bid for the 2024 presidential election on the upcoming Wednesday.
Efforts to obtain comment from the Miami-Dade County Public Schools regarding this matter were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
