Clarence Thomas said that the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision was wrong while voting for a South Carolina voting map.
Jaki Shelton Green was named North Carolina’s ninth poet laureate; making her the first African American woman to receive the honor.
Amanda Gorman is named the first national youth poet laureate. The award recognizes a teen poet who demonstrates literary talent and community engagement.
Smith, 45, said she planned to use the position to be an evangelist of sorts, taking poetry to places that often don’t see or experience it.