Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

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Still I Rise was published as Angelou’s third poetry collection And Still I Rise in 1978 about the assertion of the dignity and resilience of marginalized communities during oppression. The American civil rights activist and writer often wrote about blackness and blackwomanood thus makes this poem as a critique of anti-black racism. [1]

The lyrical poem reflects her spirit, strength, and determination to fight and defeat racism, hate speech, and oppression. The poem’s ending refers the struggle and pain of becoming African-American as a victim of slavery. [2]

Poetry

Still I Rise

Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,

Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don't you take it awful hard

’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines

Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I've got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame

I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise. [3]

Author

Born as Marguerite Annie Johnson or known by famous name Maya Angelou (/ˈændʒəloʊ/) on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. As an African-American, Angelou has experienced her first racial prejudices and discrimination in Arkansas. Her parents split when she was very young and lived with her father’s mother along with her older brother, Bailey. Angelou also suffered at the hands of a family associate when she was 7, raped by her mother’s boyfriend, during a visit with her mother left a deep trauma for her. As the result, she stopped talking and spent years as a virtual mute. [4] [5]

Angelou was an American poet, memorist, and civil rights activist. Dozens of awards had been received along with more than 50 honorary degrees. Her best known series of seven autobiographies, focusing on her childhood and early adult experiences, one of them is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), tells about her life until the age of 17, which bringing her international recognition and acclaim. Her career as a poet and writer began after a string of odd jobs during her young adulthood. She was active as in the Civil Rights Movements and worked with Martin Luther King Jr., as well as Malcolm X. [6]

Racism Issue

This poem reflects the speaker’s determination, expressing her thoughts towards her action facing the haters. Determining to be strong with her self-esteem, showing how people judge and perceive her in which the problem she faced and the torture she suffered. Though everyone against her, she display positive attitude towards criticism and resolves that no one ever be allowed to let her down and she will continue to rise.

Still I Rise depicts pride, courge, and injustice. Pointing how dark skin colored people being criticized in society, and how people wanted to kill them with hatefulness. Nonetheless, the poem shows how proud the speaker is with her identity, she also challenges those who want to let her down. Instead of living in stress and fear, the speaker chooses to live in a happy and confident life. [7]

The poem wants to deliver the poet’s intention of praising her ability, strength, and body to rise up and away from her personal historical past. There is nothing that can hold her back, even her past as she is going to rise above beyond anything. The major theme of the poem is self-empowerment, injustice, and perseverance. The word “you” refers to the varieties of injustice that people of color, women, and marginalized communities have been faced with.

In the line :

“You may trod me in the very dirt / But still, like dust, I’ll rise”

Angelou seeks to empower herself, as well as for those who have doubted their strength, beauty, abilities, intelligence, or worth. [8]

References