Controversy Erupts as Florida School Bans Amanda Gorman's Inaugural Poem for Young Readers

A Florida school has banned Amanda Gorman's poem "The Hill We Climb" from its library after a parent complained that it referenced critical race theory, gender ideology, and "indirect hate messages." Gorman expressed her disappointment in a statement, saying that the ban robs children of the chance to find their voices in literature and violates their right to free thought and free speech. Penguin Random House, Gorman's publisher, has joined free expression organization PEN America and authors of banned books in filing a federal lawsuit against Florida's Escambia County School District over its removal and restriction of access to books that discuss race, racism, and LGBTQ identities.