In an interview, Amanda Gorman referenced a speech by Abraham Lincoln, delivered three years into the United States Civil War. She said, “Abraham Lincoln where he basically says, ‘By freedom, we do not all mean the same thing. By feminism, we do not all mean the same thing. By intersectionality, we do not all mean the same thing’.” In other words, a person's unique perspective can change the meaning of something. 

 

In this activity, you will read an excerpt from President Lincoln’s speech to which Ms. Gorman refers. What is most significant in his speech? Which words would convey what you understand this text to say? Thinking about the answers to these questions and how perspective can change a person’s point of view, find the most important words in the excerpt to create a blackout poem that expresses your thoughts.

 

Procedure

  1. Open President Lincoln’s speech and read through it at least two times. Highlight all the words you think are most significant and convey the message of the excerpt.
  2. Open the Google Slides version of the speech excerpt. 
  3. Watch this video that explains how to create your own Blackout Poem using Google Slides. 
  4. Read through the poem finding the words you want to use in your poem. Remember to look for words that are significant,  have meaning to you,  and will convey your message. Create your Blackout Poem using the instructions from the video in step 3.
  5. You will submit this in the next activity.