Initial poet Amanda Gorman took to Twitter on Friday night to share her experience with a security guard who allegedly called her “suspicious” because of the color of her skin.
“A security guard took me home on my hike tonight,” the 22-year-old tweeted, adding that he asked to know if she lived in the apartment complex.
“I showed my keys and waved myself into my building,” she added.
Gorman claims that the guard left after that, without apologizing for his accusations. She wrote that the situation shed light on the racial issues facing the US.
“This is the reality of black girls: one day you are called an icon, the next day a threat,” she said.
A security guard took me home on my hike tonight. He asked if I lived there because ‘you look suspicious’. I showed my keys and moved into my building. He’s gone, no excuse. This is the reality of black girls: one day you are called an icon, the next day a threat. https://t.co/MmANtQqpBs
– Amanda Gorman (@TheAmandaGorman) 5 March 2021
Gorman’s tweet refers to the praise she received after her viral inaugural speech in January. She was then asked to perform at the Super Bowl, for which she also received great praise.
As the youngest presidential first poet in American history, Gorman attracted extra attention for her performances. She said she uses her platform to establish visibility to other young black women.
Wow, a fantastic @washingtonpost piece of door @nnekamcguire . We live in a contradictory society that can celebrate a black girl poet and also celebrate a 9 year old pepper spray. Yes see me but also see all the other black girls made invisible. I can not, will not get up alone. https://t.co/tP531SCjrk
– Amanda Gorman (@TheAmandaGorman) 14 February 2021
“We live in a contradictory society that can celebrate a black girl poet and also spray a 9-year-old pepper spray.” during which Rochester police sprayed a young girl with pepper.
“Yes see me, but also see all the other black girls who have been made invisible,” she added. “I can not, will not get up alone.”