Maya Angelou, an African-American poet, wrote the famous poem “Still I Rise” which explores themes of slavery and the experiences of African-American women. The poem reflects on how Angelou is treated differently and draws connections to her ancestors’ struggles during slavery as well as her own ongoing challenges. “Still I Rise” has become a source of inspiration for people from various backgrounds. It not only addresses the hardships of slavery and Angelou’s personal struggles but also serves as a beacon of hope and encouragement for those who have faced difficulties in their own lives. The poem holds different meanings for different individuals, but its central message is universal: no matter the obstacles one encounters, it is possible to overcome and rise above them.
Maya’s poem, “Still I Rise,” explores the depths of human nature and the innate strength we possess to confront and triumph over adversity in life (elite skills). The majority of readers who have encountered this poem have arrived at a shared understanding of Maya Angelou’s intended message. She urges her readers to find the courage to resist being pushed around or having their spirits broken by the judgments and criticisms of others. Maya Angelou’s personal experiences during the era of Martin Luther King Jr. inform her words, as she recounts the segregation and discriminatory practices faced by African-Americans, including separate drinking fountains, schools, stores, restaurants, churches, public gatherings, and seating arrangements. Notably, in 1993, Maya Angelou delivered her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at William Jefferson Clinton’s presidential inauguration (Maya Angelou A Glorious Celebration Gillespie, Butler and Long p. 7). In “Still I Rise,” Maya Angelou skillfully employs similes and metaphors throughout the poem.
In this passage, Maya Angelou compares herself to various elements of nature and expresses her resilience despite the negative portrayal of her in history. She likens herself to rising dust, the moon and sun affecting the tides, high hopes, the air, and the ocean. Maya Angelou acknowledges that historians may write hateful falsehoods about her race and background, but she asserts that she will still thrive. Her sassiness and confidence defy those who try to undermine and suppress her. They want to see her afraid and unable to show her true self in public, where she would be seen as an outcast.
Maya Angelou portrays the disdainful individuals who hold a negative view of her and her race as unsettled when they witness her strolling with an air of affluence and significance, someone they would deem suitable for their social circle. Through vivid description, she conveys a sense of pride in her stride. This segment of the poem evokes an image of a well-to-do woman, curvaceous and clad in pristine white attire, confidently displaying her wealth. With haughty posture and an aloof demeanor, she disregards others’ opinions.
Maya Angelou opts to draw a parallel between herself and the tide, which is irresistibly drawn closer to the shore by the gravitational force of the moon. This comparison signifies her indomitable spirit, as she cannot be brought down due to a continual upward pull. In line eleven, she mentions that hopes always remain high, acknowledging the universal presence of aspirations and dreams in people’s lives. Just as hopes soar, she, too, will continue to ascend. Consequently, she surpasses the pessimism inherent in words and actions that attempt to dismantle and stifle her soul.
Maya Angelou poses a series of rhetorical queries in stanza four: lines thirteen and fourteen. She understands the desire for others to witness her shattered, feeble, and tearful state as a result of the critique and hurtful remarks directed at her. She not only faced criticism for being an African-American during a period when white society rejected their inclusion but also endured the additional burden of being an African-American woman. In the 1950s, societal expectations confined women to marriage and domestic duties rather than participation in the workforce.
Imagine the challenges faced by a black woman striving to achieve her goals. Despite the difficulty, she refuses to let her emotions show and instead rises above it. In the fifth stanza, she discusses the power of laughter. Laughter is deemed as a remedy for all. By laughing at the negativity thrown her way, she can easily brush it off and pretend that it never affected her. This disappoints those who wanted to see their negativity affect her attitude and take advantage of her.
Laughing with those who try to tear you down shows them your strength, resiliency, and determination. Despite their hatefulness, you remain steadfast in your pursuit of success and happiness. There will always be individuals who want to witness your failure and downfall, using hurtful words and disdainful glances in their attempts to diminish you. Nevertheless, it is vital to stand firm in your beliefs and demonstrate that their negativity cannot hinder your progress or deter you from achieving your dreams. Let them witness your unwavering rise above their negativity as you continue to pursue your goals and find fulfillment in life.
During the era of slavery, slave owners treated their slaves as if they were animals that needed to be tamed and controlled, disregarding their hopes and dreams. They sought to eliminate their customs and way of life. Maya Angelou, an African-American herself, exhibits great passion for this issue and addresses it in her poems “Miss Scarlett, Mr. Rhett and Other Latter-Day Saints” and “Family Affairs”. Angelou demonstrates that despite her black skin color, she has triumphed over her past and enjoys the same level of freedom as those with white skin.
She has transcended her past by choosing not to harbor bitterness or regret. Instead, she proudly embraces her ethnicity and heritage. By forgetting where she came from, she strives to live a life pursuing happiness, enjoying the freedom that her ancestors could only dream of. She acknowledges that she is the realization of her enslaved ancestors’ aspirations, the embodiment of their hopes. Maya Angelou’s poem, “Still I Rise,” serves as an empowering message for individuals who rise up and assert their identity and convictions. This poem taught me the importance of not allowing others to manipulate and control who I am based on their opinions and criticisms. I choose to rise above outside influences.
Work Cited
Angelou, Maya. Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now. Random House 1993 Rampersad, Arnold and Hilary Herbold, eds. The Oxford Anthology of African-American Poetry. Oxford University Press 2006 “Still I Rise Analysis Maya Angelou” elite skills. com. 2009. 10 February 2011. http://www.eliteskills.com/analysis_poetry/Still_I_Rise_by_Maya_Angelou_analysis.php “Still I Rise”
You may attempt to tarnish my reputation with your hateful and distorted falsehoods. You may oppress me and trample upon me, but I will rise again, persistent and resolute, just like dust. Are you disturbed by my audacity? Why are you plagued by sorrow? Is it because I walk with the confidence of someone who possesses unlimited resources, even within the confines of my own home? Similar to the predictable movements of celestial bodies and the unwavering ebb and flow of the tide, akin to aspirations soaring high in the sky, I will still rise. Did you yearn to witness my spirit shatter? For me to bow my head in defeat and avoid meeting others’ gazes? As if my shoulders were weighed down by cascading tears. My profound lamentations only made me stronger. Does my self-assurance offend you? Are you not able to handle it? Because I delight in life’s treasures as if I have discovered abundant gold mines within my very 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 surpriseThat I dance like I’ve got diamondsAt the meeting of my thighs? Out of the huts of history’s shameI riseUp from a past that’s rooted in painI riseI’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fearI riseInto a daybreak that’s wondrously clearI riseBringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I riseI riseI rise.
