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Kamala Harris and Amanda Gorman MARCH 2021 WOMEN OF INFLUENCE: Kamala Harris and Amanda Gorman TABLE OF CONTENTS Video Summary & Related Content 3 Video Review 4 Before Viewing 5 Talk Prompts 6 Digging Deeper 8 Activity: Poetry Analysis 13 Sources 14 News in Review is produced by Visit www.curio.ca/newsinreview for an CBC NEWS and Curio.ca archive of all previous News In Review seasons. As a companion resource, go to GUIDE www.cbc.ca/news for additional articles. Writer: Jennifer Watt Editor: Sean Dolan CBC authorizes reproduction of material VIDEO contained in this guide for educational Host: Michael Serapio purposes. Please identify source. Senior Producer: Jordanna Lake News In Review is distributed by: Supervising Manager: Laraine Bone Curio.ca | CBC Media Solutions © 2021 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation WOMEN OF INFLUENCE: Kamala Harris and Amanda Gorman Video duration – 14:55 In January 2021, Kamala Harris became the highest-ranking woman in U.S. history when she was sworn in as the first female vice-president — and the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to hold the position. Born in California, Harris has ties to Canada having attended high school in Montreal. Another exciting voice heard at the U.S. presidential inauguration was a young woman who may well be changing the world with her powerful words. Amanda Gorman, 23, is an American poet and activist. In 2017, she became the first person in the U.S. to be named National Youth Poet Laureate. This is a look at these two Women of Influence for 2021. Related Content on Curio.ca • News in Review, December 2020 – U.S. Election 2020: The Count and the Controversy • News in Review, November 2020 – Election 2020: Battle for the U.S. Presidency • News in Review, September 2019 – America Divided: Migrants, the Squad and the Chant • News in Review, September 2016 – Clinton’s Campaign: Who Is Hillary? • News in Review, November 2008 – Americans Choose a New President curio.ca/newsinreview / 3 VIDEO REVIEW curio.ca/newsinreview / 4 BEFORE VIEWING 1. Name a few women who have had a positive influence on your life. What qualities and characteristics do those women share? 2. In what ways do you think Kamala Harris and Amanda Gorman can be considered “women of influence?” Conduct some online research if you need to learn more about them. 3. What obstacles do you feel women face in becoming “influential”? 4. What words would you use to describe Kamala Harris (other than influential)? 5. What words would you use to describe Amanda Gorman (other than influential)? Women of Influence: Kamala Harris and Amanda Gorman curio.ca/newsinreview / 5 TALK PROMPT #1 Consider pausing the video and giving students the opportunity to talk to an elbow partner for a few minutes or use these questions as part of a class discussion. Pause the video (@ 08:14) after the segment on Kamala Harris: a. Why was Kamala Harris chosen to be Vice President? b. Do you think Kamala Harris becoming the Vice President is a positive development for the United States? Why? c. What is Harris’s Canadian connection? d. Does female representation in politics matter? Why? Women of Influence: Kamala Harris and Amanda Gorman curio.ca/newsinreview / 6 TALK PROMPT #2 Pause for discussion at the end of the video. a. How did the siege of the U.S. Capitol help inspire Amanda Gorman’s poem? b. What does Amanda Gorman represent for young Black women? c. Did you see Gorman’s inauguration performance? If not, check it out here. What did you think of the poem? d. What social media reactions did you see after her poetry performances (both at the inauguration and at the Super Bowl)? e. In her poem The Hill We Climb, Gorman says, “For there was always light if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” What does this line mean to you? Women of Influence: Kamala Harris and Amanda Gorman curio.ca/newsinreview / 7 DIGGING DEEPER curio.ca/newsinreview / 8 DIGGING DEEPER greatness. These women are role models who represent January 20, 2021, marked an positive change, especially for historic milestone in United racialized women. States history. Sharing the stage at the U.S. inauguration A new sense of hope and were two remarkable women: possibility spread through the Kamala Harris, the first Black media celebrating the fact and South Asian woman to that the “glass ceiling” had become Vice-President and been shattered by Harris’s and Amanda Gorman, the Gorman’s achievements. youngest person to act as For this Digging Deeper, read inaugural poet. They were the the three articles that follow dual stars of the event. Both and answer the questions women have broken through provided. systemic barriers to achieve Women of Influence: Kamala Harris and Amanda Gorman curio.ca/newsinreview / 9 Kamala Harris Questions Vice President 1. Do you think Harris’s Read this CBC article to find inauguration signals a We will all learn what out more about Kamala positive change in happens to the kind of Harris’s life experiences and American politics? Why? capacities and insights how her rise to power as the 2. How do you think Harris’s of Black women in first female, Black and South family and early politics when those capacities and insights Asian vice-president is a experiences shaped her are permitted to lead. momentous occasion in political career? American history. – Martha S. Jones, history 3. How do you think her professor, Johns Hopkins University Kamala Harris makes history identities (female, Black, as first woman of colour to South Asian, liberal) will take the oath of U.S. shape her leadership? vice-president Women of Influence: Kamala Harris and Amanda Gorman curio.ca/newsinreview / 10 Amanda Gorman Questions Poet and Activist We, the successors of a 1. What were some of the country and a time, This CBC article details historical and present-day Where a skinny black girl, Amanda Gorman’s references that Gorman Descended from slaves inauguration poem, the made in her poem? and raised by a single reaction to the poem, and 2. Why do you think those mother, how she has inspired people references are important Can dream of becoming to live a more just and to her? president, inclusive life. 3. How did Gorman reference Only to find herself The youngest poet to read at a her own life in the poem? reciting for one. U.S. presidential inauguration 4. Explain the significance of – From The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman had dreams of this day her earrings and ring. 5. Do you think Gorman is a “breakout” star? Why? Women of Influence: Kamala Harris and Amanda Gorman curio.ca/newsinreview / 11 Harris and Biden Questions 4. What percentage of vice presidents have become This article was written when 1. What criticisms did Harris presidents? then presidential hopeful Joe first face when she became Biden selected Kamala Harris Biden’s running mate? Investigate as his running mate. Harris and 2. How did Harris challenge Check out the racial breakdown Biden had faced each other in Biden on his previous of voters in the 2021 U.S. debates for the Democratic positions regarding presidential election here. presidential nomination. After desegregation of much speculation as to who schools? Anyone who wants to detract Biden would select, he [from] her based on anything is 3. What do you think of announced his choice, and going to face a wall of Black Biden’s claim that his Harris was thrust into the women like they've never seen. choice of Harris was a spotlight. Biden just ensured that he will governing decision, not a have maximum turnout from What the Kamala Harris pick political decision? What African Americans. means for Biden’s campaign was he trying to – Joy Reid, MSNBC correspondent accomplish? Women of Influence: Kamala Harris and Amanda Gorman curio.ca/newsinreview / 12 ACTIVITY: Poetry Analysis Read Amanda Gorman’s poem The Hill We Climb. 1. What is your favourite line(s)? Why? 2. What is the most powerful image in Gorman’s poem? Explain your choice. 3. What connection does Gorman make to events in American history? 4. What connections do you make between this poem and your life? ADDITIONAL TASKS: 1. Annotate the poem by noting figurative language (e.g. metaphor, simile, hyperbole). What is the theme? What imagery is used? 2. Compare Gorman’s inaugural poem to Maya Angelou’s inaugural poem for Barack Obama called On the Pulse of Morning. Note the main similarities and differences. Women of Influence: Kamala Harris and Amanda Gorman curio.ca/newsinreview / 13 SOURCES CBC News. (January 20, 2021). Kamala Harris makes history as first woman of colour to take the oath of U.S. vice-president. Retrieved from: www.cbc.ca/news/world/harris-history-vice-president-1.588066 CBC News. (January 20, 2021). The youngest poet to read at a U.S. presidential inauguration had dreams of this day. Retrieved from: www.cbc.ca/news/world/amanda-gorman-inauguration-poet-1.5880936 Panetta, A. (August 12, 2020). What the Kamala Harris pick means for Biden’s campaign. CBC News. Retrieved from: www.cbc.ca/news/world/what-the-kamala-harris-pick-means-for-biden-s-campaign-1.5682759 Women of Influence: Kamala Harris and Amanda Gorman curio.ca/newsinreview / 14.
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