![]() ![]() Although she was born after the time period when slaves were kept, segregation was still rampant in her area as she grew up, as she was born in Missouri in 1928. It was written in 1978 by an African American woman, which explains why she mentions her ancestors and rising up “from a past that’s rooted in pain.” (31) She is clearly referring to the mistreatment of African Americans in the United States. This historical context of this piece is very important. Rebellion against the views of the racists in society or even just her personal enemies fuels the strong and passionate wording of this poem. Inner strength is the source of her defiance here she never once mentions outside support. By saying she will rise, she means to triumph and overcome. Clearly, she does not mean the violent verbs she uses literally they are used to show the goal the enemy has of bringing her down in society, whether as an individual or as an African American. Just like in the previous excerpt, figurative language is used to make her point. They can aim to hurt her with words, glares, and even just hatred itself, yet they will not succeed. The stanza above supports the same conclusion. However, her optimism makes her believe that their bitterness will only serve to lift her higher, which I interpret as Angelou’s way of saying that what does not kill her will only make her stronger. Instead, she uses it figuratively to tell how they treat her with disrespect. She does not mean “You may trod me in the very dirt,” (3) in a literal sense. Just like dust rises after being stomped upon, she will do the same. She is saying that even if they try to tarnish her legacy with false statements and treat her as if she is worthless, she will not let it impact how she sees herself. Defiant, formidable, and graceful, “Still I Rise” has long taken its rightful place in the Black poetry canon, and we celebrate the great mind of Maya Angelou, who gave us this gift.It is clear from the very first stanza that this poem is meant to stand up against those who aim to crush you: Hate rots, but rising above that hate and into the comforting arms of ancestors and deep self-love is how we grow seeds for ourselves and for the next generation. Much of Angelou’s work has this hymn-like quality, a nod to the influences of Black gospel music.Īnd with the juxtaposition of the violent language and actions of the oppressor-“bitter, twisted lies” and “You may shoot me with your words / You may cut me with your eyes / You may kill me with your hatefulness”-and the lyrical, gentle, joyous language of the oppressed, Angelou is making a clear statement. The natural imagery in this poem, as well as the reference to ancestor pride, makes it transcendent, almost spiritual. Angelou’s rise from oppression creates a cinematic feel of her rising with the tide of that black ocean that carried her ancestors. Play icon The triangle icon that indicates to play It’s no wonder this poem has spoken and continues to speak to Black survivors of sexual violence. There’s something powerful about Angelou, a survivor of child abuse, reclaiming the power and beauty and sensuality on her terms. “Still I Rise” has a special meaning for Black women, with sensual imagery and joyful celebration of Black women’s bodies, which have always been weaponized and exploited. Mandela himself spoke and wrote at length about the importance of maintaining dignity and strength in the face of overwhelming oppression.Īngelou, who grew up in the Jim Crow South and was heavily involved in the civil rights movement, experienced extreme racism and sexism as a Black woman, and that dual experience is reflected in this poem. The late Nelson Mandela even chose this poem for his inauguration in 1994, after spending 27 years in Robben Island prison for his resistance to the South African apartheid government. Published in Angelou’s third poetry collection, And Still I Rise, in 1978, it’s a poem about overcoming injustice and prejudice, and the immutable strength of the human spirit. Everything about this poem-the repetition, the natural imagery, its ancestral pride–induces a feeling of soaring whenever read or recited. ![]() Maya Angelou’s iconic poem “Still I Rise” has had an impact on the world that will echo throughout generations, especially for Black women. ![]()
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