Amanda Gorman will bring poetry—and politics—to the Super Bowl

– A star is born. The Internet very rarely agrees on anything. But during President Biden’s inauguration last week, the digital hive mind did seem to find one point of consensus: Amanda Gorman is a star.

So, it’s anything but a shock that we’re going to be seeing a lot more of the 22-year-old who recited her poem “The Hill We Climb” on that chilly January morning. This week, we learned that IMG Models will now represent Gorman for those sure-to-emerge fashion and beauty endorsements. Her debut poetry volume is expected in September, her first picture book is on the way, and she has several other literary projects cooking. And, oh yes, she will also be performing at the Super Bowl.

I personally have mixed feelings about that particular event—the NFL’s handling of issues like racism, police violence, and domestic violence have been ham-fisted at best. But there’s no ignoring the primacy it holds in American culture (more than 100 million people watched last year!). Gorman will be reciting a new poem written for the moment, though we know it will “recognize an educator, a nurse, and a veteran for helping their communities during the coronavirus pandemic.” 

She is—surprise!—the first-ever poet to perform at the big game. Her performance at the inauguration proved that poetry deserves a place in popular culture, and I have no doubt she’ll win new fans for the art form with this showcase. But even more than the medium itself, it’s the message I’m excited to hear. Gorman has said that she “has to interweave my poetry with purpose.” Her poems probe American history, as well as our current reality, and confront issues of race, gender, economic inequalities and other weighty and complicated topics rarely supported by ads for light beer.

It’s a big step forward for an event that has previously seemed utterly unprepared to handle even oblique references to race and politics. (Remember the drama over Beyoncé’s Black Panthers-inspired performance?) To have that step taken by a young, spectacularly talented Black woman like Gorman is an inspiration—and a suggestion that even the most entrenched aspects of our culture can, ever so gradually, change.

Kristen Bellstrom
[email protected]
@ kayelbee

Today’s Broadsheet was curated by Emma Hinchliffe. 

ALSO IN THE HEADLINES

- Stop, GameStop. Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman weighed in on the flurry of activity causing volatility in the stock prices of GameStop, AMC, and Nokia. Friedman says the exchange (which doesn't list those three companies) follows social media activity and would halt trading if it matches unusual stock activity. Business Insider

- First cause. As first lady, Jill Biden will take on a critical—and unusual—role. She plans to be closely involved in the Biden administration's efforts to reunite children and parents separated from each other at the U.S.-Mexico border. CNN

- Annual report. In their annual letter, Bill and Melinda Gates shared their take on the year in global health—including its effects on caregivers. Although the letter is mostly about the public health, it incorporates Melinda Gates' work on caregiving. "It’s time to start treating child care as essential infrastructure," they write. Axios

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Piermont Bank hired Sterling National Bank alum Marianne McGoldrick as chief credit officer.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

- On the hunt. In this week's Smarter Working column, S. Mitra Kalita writes about UCandu, the job hunting platform founded by Cat Bradley and Meredith Perez. The platform aims to fix some of the most common complaints about the job search process—including getting ghosted by employers. Coins2Day

- Small-town conversations. Nextdoor, the platform led by CEO Sarah Friar, is taking on an interesting function in local communities: replacing the small-town newspaper. The platform has become the center of conversations about politics among many friends and neighbors. OneZero

- Company chair. Andi Owen is the CEO of Herman Miller, a company in an industry upended by the pandemic: office furniture. The past year has had other challenges too, including "frank conversations"—or arguments—among workers on the factory floor. Owen reflects in this Corner Office interview: New York Times

ON MY RADAR

Here's what it was really like to work at a women's website Medium

Biden's pick for UN ambassador vows to hold China accountable CNN

The women of Wikipedia are writing themselves into history Glamour

PARTING WORDS

"Some Oscar winners have dropped out of sight as if they were standing on a trapdoor. Others picked it up and ran with it. I’m going to run with it."

-Actor Cloris Leachman, who died Wednesday at 94.