A writer who was chosen to translate American poet Amanda Gorman's work into Dutch has handed back the assignment following criticism that a white author was selected to translate the words of a Black woman who is the youngest inaugural poet in US history. Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, who last year became the youngest writer to win the International Booker Prize with her novel The Discomfort Of Evening, announced the decision in a Twitter post recently. A Dutch translation of The Hill We Climb, the poem Gorman recited to wide acclaim at the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden, was scheduled to be released at the end of March by publisher Meulenhoff. Meulenhoff general director Maaike le Noble said in a statement that the publisher wants to learn from the experience. "We are going to look for a team to cooperate with to translate Amanda's words and message of hope and inspiration as well as possible and in her spirit, ” Le Noble said.

Source: The Star February 28, 2021 06:56 UTC