Community Witnesses History in the Making

Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Jill Biden holds the Bible during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

On January 20, the Browning community witnessed an inauguration like no other for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. 

Students gathered virtually in classes to watch this historic event. In a year filled with sadness and hardships, the community witnessing history in the making provided a much needed distraction during these difficult times. From the coronavirus and racial injustice in the country to  the polarized political system, watching the inauguration together was a way to show our shared unity as Americans.

During a brief pause in class time, the community was able to listen to President Biden's encouraging speech where he used the common theme of unity as a way to help America prevail through these times. “This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge...unity is the path forward,” President Biden said. 

Alexander R. ‘21 was very pleased with the presentation of the historic event and the discussions that followed.  

“I really appreciate that our teachers let us watch the inauguration during class. It was such a historic moment that we all had to watch together. The discussions that followed showed me how much my classmates care about the future of our country,” Alexander said. 

President Biden’s and Vice President Harris’ swearing-in was the highlight of the ceremony, but other special moments were observed. For example, twenty-two year-old poet laureate Amanda Gorman recited her remarkable poem “The Hill We Climb”. This recitation not only resulted in a standing ovation with some of the most important people in the world, but also was a topic of discussion at Browning.  

Classics teacher Ian Hochberg, who presented the inauguration on the whiteboard for students in his pod, used Gorman’s poem as a lesson in his 10th grade Latin class.

“I found youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman's poem "The Hill We Climb" to be quite moving,” Mr. Hochberg said. “It encapsulated the challenges, resilience, and aspirations of our country. My Latin III students looked at the rhetorical devices she used in the poem.”

Along with Mr. Hochberg, others among the Browning community were impressed with Gorman’s moving poem. Charlie K. ‘24 specifically remembered her work.

“Gorman’s words were not only incredibly inspiring, but were also delivered with a passion and zeal,” Charlie said. “I thought the rhythm of the poem and the ways words were emphasized was also incredibly thought out and purposeful, and helped add emotion and power to her work.” 

This Wednesday of 2021 was not a normal Wednesday for Americans, the world, or the Browning community. It was one of the most remarkable inaugurations in American history, and Browning made sure its community captured the day to the best of its ability.