Who Is Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, Running For President 2036

TODAY anchors Craig Melvin and Dylan Dreyer are co-hosting the televised Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular this year. Superstar entertainers including John Legend, Alicia Keys, Tim McGraw and The Black Eyed Peas, among others, will give special performances. National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman kicks off the annual Independence Day event.

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Today I graduate cum laude from Harvard College with a BA in Sociology! Of course I hadn’t imagined years ago that my diploma ceremony would be virtual, but I’m so grateful for the memories, knowledge, and above all, friendships that I’ve garnered throughout this wild ride. As a black girl and descendant of slaves, graduating college, let alone from an Ivy League university, meant I was able to access a knowledge—which is power—that had been kept out of my people’s hands for generations. What’s more, at college I found myself amidst some of the most magnanimous and mighty minds I’ve ever met. Information is power, but so is friendship, and oh how fierce are my friends when it comes to giving their best selves to others. Thanks to my girls, I couldn’t have done this without you. These are the bonds that can break down barriers, build bridges, and brighten the world. Thanks as well to my family, especially my mom, for getting me to this miraculous mountain. I’m forever grateful for the lessons, the laughs, and the love xoxo Amanda—Leverett Room G32 forever ❤️ P.S. Saying it one more time for the people in the back—often I get asked how I balanced college and my career, and sometimes people assume that my academics took a secondary seat. Never. Ever. Learning is what makes me the poet I am. I’m proud to graduate with a 3.98 GPA, a Detur Book Prize, Booth Fellowship, and two John Harvard Scholar awards for my grades. You can be black, beautiful, brainy, and brilliant my loves. To those who say you can’t be it all, your light and life will doubtlessly prove them wrong.

A post shared by Amanda Gorman (@amandascgorman) on May 28, 2020 at 2:16pm PDT

Gorman, a Los Angeles native, recently gradated from Harvard University with a B.S. in Sociology. The 21-year-old is the founder and Executive Director of One Pen One Page, which promotes literacy through free creative writing programming for underserved youth. 

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An honor to open the Global Leadership Awards @vitalvoices this week! Loved meeting @speakerpelosi @hillaryclinton and of course being reunited with my @herleadfellowship family! Also blown away by @gaylekabaker ‘s portrait. Brava to all the fearless women who won much-deserved recognition. #vitalvoices #leadership #women 👗@asos

A post shared by Amanda Gorman (@amandascgorman) on Apr 27, 2019 at 8:13am PDT

Gorman is also a professional model: she’s been featured in national campaigns for Eileen Fisher and Helmut Lang. Oh, and she says she’s running for president in 2036. Gorman already has a couple of friends who know what’s what in the White House (see Hillary Clinton photo above, Michelle Obama letter below).

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A thank u card from @michelleobama 🤯😭 I literally do not need anything for Christmas. #forevergrateful

A post shared by Amanda Gorman (@amandascgorman) on Dec 20, 2018 at 9:26am PST

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So this happened 🤯 ! thank you to @johnkrasinski @somegoodnews from the bottom of my heart for making the 202 Graduation the best one yet! I was already having a mental breakdown at talking with @johnkrasinski , and when @oprah popped on it was too much to process. Check out #SGN Graduation at the link in bio to see what question I asked Oprah, and to hear my commencement address! #somegoodnews #graduation

A post shared by Amanda Gorman (@amandascgorman) on May 4, 2020 at 9:49am PDT

Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular airs Saturday, July 4 at 8 pm on NBC. [GIVE yourself or a FRIEND the GIFT of Amazon Prime!]