Love, Light, and Victory Beyond “The Hill We Climb”

By: Shelly-Ann Wilson Henry, CEO & Strategic Communications Leader

As we usher in another Black History Month, I can’t help but reflect on Amanda Gorman’s poem, “The Hill We Climb.” This poem sets the stage for what our future could look like if we commit to “leave behind a country better than the one we were left.” And it also exhibits what our communities and organizations can become if we embrace our differences and foster inclusion. The poem brings us hope and comfort that beyond our healing and hard work, there will be love, light, and victory; “And every known nook of our nation and every corner called our country, our people diverse and beautiful, will emerge battered and beautiful.” 

There is no doubt that we have come a long way as a nation. America now has a Black and Asian-American woman as its Vice President. If that is not a celebration of our country’s racial and ethnic diversity, I don’t know what is. As we celebrate Black history, many of us are ecstatic to be alive in this moment. A moment made extra special by Gorman, who is also a celebrated first as the youngest inaugural poet. As she said so eloquently, “We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president, only to find herself reciting for one.” But as we revel in this moment, we are also acutely aware that we have work to do to build on our progress.  

I am confident that young girls (and grown women) from across the country watched the inauguration with flickering eyes of hope. Hope that they too can make history, like becoming the first Vice-President of the United States and being the youngest inaugural poet. Will we make room for Black and Brown women, in particular, to lead in our communities, sit at the table, and become President of the United States? 

Gorman painted a picture of inclusion for us when she said, “We are striving to forge our union with purpose. To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man. And so we lift our gaze, not to what stands between us, but what stands before us. We close the divide because we know to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside.” What would this look like in our organizations?  

Let me paint a picture of an inclusive workplace – All employees, regardless of their differences, have a voice and feel safe to express themselves; Employees see themselves represented at the executive leadership and board levels; There are established activities and initiatives that encourage allyship, improved cultural competence, and help employees to become more aware of their biases; and inclusive leaders create opportunities for all employees to grow and develop through mentorship, sponsorship, and participation on strategic project teams. 

With Amanda Gorman’s inspirational poem as our motivator, let us celebrate the advances that the Black race has made in this country and pledge to continue the work to “… rebuild, reconcile, and recover” so that we can “… move to what shall be: a country that is bruised but whole, benevolent but bold, fierce and free.” 

You can read the full text of Amanda Gorman’s poem here.