On Tuesday, Amanda Gorman criticized Miami-Dade County, Florida, school officials for prohibiting elementary students from reading her famous poem "The Hill We Climb," which she recited at President Joe Biden's 2020 inauguration.

Only students in the pre-K through eighth grade at the Miami Lakes, Florida, Bob Graham Education Center will have access to the short book, which is a poem.

According to Gorman, Penguin Random House, her publisher, is collaborating with PEN America and other organizations to file a lawsuit that challenges the restrictions placed on books as retaliation.

Expressing her deep disappointment, the initial National Youth Poet Laureate posted on Instagram that she was devastated by the Bob Graham Education Center's choice to prohibit her art from being accessible to the pupils it caters to. According to Gorman, one parent's complaint resulted in the decision.



On Twitter, she expressed her frustration over the fact that her book has been banned for young readers. She criticized the decision makers for not identifying which parts of her poetry they find inappropriate, neglecting to go through any reviews, and not providing any alternative options. She also indicated that the occurrence of unjust bans like this is happening more often, and we have to resist.


She shared a tweet with a complaint form that alleges her book has "hate messages" and is not considered educational. The form, also posted by The Florida Freedom to Read Project, states that the complainant thinks the book intends to "confuse and indoctrinate students."

Florida's anti-gay speech law has been expanded. Gender identity and sexual orientation education are no longer permitted until the 12th grade.

The book was moved rather than banned from the school.


The mother of two students at Bob Graham Education Center made a complaint that resulted in the limitation of "The Hill we Climb" access for elementary-level students. The parent mentioned that there were five books in the library of the school that weren't suitable for the age group.

A committee consisting of some teachers from Bob Graham and some administrators assessed four items as being better suited for middle school students rather than young elementary students. 

Three additional titles, namely "Cuban Kids," "Love to Langston," and "The ABCs of Black History," originally intended for readers aged 5 years and above, have also been reclassified as suitable for middle school students.

Despite facing criticism, Miami-Dade school officials have stated that they did not ban the book and justified their decisions.

The district stated that no literary works, including books and poems, have been prohibited or taken away. The school concluded that 'The Hill We Climb' is more appropriate for middle school students and has been placed in the middle school section of the media center. However, the book can still be accessed in the media center.

According to Gorman, her poem holds significance as a reading material for children.

Her goal in writing The Hill We Climb was to make it possible for all young people to relate to a significant event. This is proven by the countless letters and videos she received from children who were moved to write their own poems after reading hers. It is against their right to freedom of expression and opinion to deny children the chance to explore their own viewpoints through literature

Gorman urged her Instagram followers to contribute to PEN America, emphasizing their vital role in safeguarding literature.