Bethel poet Blanco awarded National Humanities Medal

PHOTO: Poet Richard Blanco, of Bethel, at an event at the Waterville Opera House in 2015. (Maureen Milliken photo)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bethel, Maine, poet Richard Blanco was awarded a National Humanities Medal March 21, one of 12 people who received the honor.
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins congratulated Blanco, who is an award-winning poet, author, professor, and public speaker.
“This prestigious award recognizes Richard’s powerful, inspiring writings and the important contributions he has made to his community in Bethel, to our state, and to communities across our country,” Collins said.
Blanco, a son of Cuban immigrants, was born in Madrid, Spain, and grew up in New York City and Miami. He moved to Bethel 15 years ago. In 2013, for President Barak Obama’s second inauguration, he read an original poem that he wrote.
The National Humanities Medal, which was created in 1997, honors individuals or groups whose work has deepened the nation’s understanding of the humanities and broadened Americans’ engagement with history, literature, languages, philosophy, and other humanities.
The other 11 recipients March 21 were:
Johnnetta Betsch Cole, Walter Isaacson, Earl Lewis, Henrietta Mann, Ann Patchett, Bryan Stevenson, Amy Tan,Tara Westover, Colson Whitehead, audio program Native America Calling, Elton John (awarded separately September 2022).
To watch a live stream of the ceremony visit neh.gov/news/2021-national-humanities-medals.