Inaugural poet Amanda Gorman took to Twitter on Friday night to share her experience with a security guard who dubbed her “suspicious,” probably because of the color of her skin.
“A security guard put me in line on my walk home tonight,” tweeted a 22-year-old, who demanded to know if he lived in the apartment complex.
“I showed my keys and walked into my building,” he added.
Gorman demanded that the guard leave, without apologizing for his accusatory actions. He wrote that the situation shed light on the racial issues facing the US.
“That’s the reality of black girls: one day you’re called an icon, the next, a threat,” she said.
A security guard queued me up on my way home tonight. He asked me to live there because “you look suspicious.” I showed my keys and entered my building. He left, without apology. This is the reality of black girls: one day they call you an icon, the next day, a threat. https://t.co/MmANtQqpBs
– Amanda Gorman (@TheAmandaGorman) March 5, 2021
Gorman’s tweet refers to the praise he received after his viral inaugural performance in January. He was then asked to perform at the Super Bowl, for which he also gained great recognition.
As the youngest presidential inaugural poet in U.S. history, Gorman drew attention for his performances. He said he used his platform to attract visibility to other young blacks.
Wow, a fantastic one @washingtonpost piece for @nnekamcguire . We live in a contradictory society that can celebrate a black girl poet and also pepper pepper at 9 years old. Yes, see me, but also see all the other black girls who have become invisible. I can’t and don’t want to get up alone. https://t.co/tP531SCjrk
– Amanda Gorman (@TheAmandaGorman) February 14, 2021
“We live in a contradictory society that can celebrate a black poet girl and also pepper with 9-year-old pepper,” she wrote on February 14th. The tweet refers to an article that was written about the praise he received as a result of an incident during which Rochester police sprayed a young girl.
“Yes, look at me, but also look at all the other black girls who have been made invisible,” she added. “I can’t and don’t want to get up alone.”