The poem ends by emphasizing how America is strong but kind, broken but whole, and the people from all corners of its land will contribute to this great and proud experiment. America is resilient, and its founding principles of freedom and democracy might sometimes be threatened, but they can never be "permanently defeated." These lofty ideals may be grand and intimidating, but although the present generations of Americans might not feel up to the task, Gorman emphasizes that it is our responsibility, and that the world, history, and the future are all expecting resilience and courage. Instead, Gorman asks us to consider the rights and wrongs of the past and simultaneously move into the future.
With each American generation, national identity is inherited and interpreted, but this weighty inheritance does not stop there. Through every previous obstacle, the American people continued to push for change, and their hopes for the future should inspire current generations to climb the hill of progress. This poem does not advocate for war or violence, but instead for peace, community, and equity. Gorman views this as the only path to a more perfect union.
The way forward from a divided America is unity, with Gorman urging that we "close the divide" and "put our future first." Instead of focusing on individual differences, America should focus on collective change. Instead, "we are striving to forge a union with purpose." America is not a utopia, but by attempting to forge ahead with meaning and good intentions, we can make it a nation that serves its people, from all backgrounds and experiences. This nation is not perfect, but Gorman emphasizes that perfection is not the goal for the country. Gorman continues by emphasizing her own connection to the past: as a descendant of slaves, her ancestors have "weathered" the worst of American history, but generations later, their descendant finds herself performing in front of millions of Americans. The reason this nation has been able to survive, however, is by recognizing that the nation is imperfect and "unfinished." In other words, the people of this nation have not given up on it, no matter how "broken" it may seem. Through these experiences, America as a nation has learned and is able to recognize signs of unrest, however small. The nation has survived a long period of tumult, leading to grief and a "loss we carry." The nation has seen many systems of injustice, from overt instances of discrimination to subtler forms of inequality, situations characterized by apparent peace with discord lying just below the surface. Can hope still be found in America today? This question is what the first few lines of " The Hill We Climb" asks the audience to consider.
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