Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

Abstract

Many of Maya Angelou's works depict themes of feminist independence, but it is explicitly portrayed in her poem Still I Rise, where she makes usage of several tools to convey her message.

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

Thesis Statement

The poem Still I Rise by Maya Angelou depicts themes of feminism and portrays her life's experiences of oppression.

Poet's Background

The poem “Still I Rise” has been composed by Maya Angelou, who is an 85 year old African American poet, journalist, author, film producer/director, actress, professor, television producer, civil rights activist and a dancer. She has been an active participant of the Social Rights Movement of the 1950s -1960s which aimed at eliminating the discrimination against African-American civilians, which had rendered their right to cast vote. Her participation in this movement was also influenced by the fact that her great grandmother was imprisoned as a slave and was severely harassed and mentally abused by her owner. Her early years were harsh as she went through several traumas, with a rape by her mother's boyfriend when she was eight years old to a separation from parents when she was only three years old. Her abuser was sentenced for one day in prison when she disclosed the rape news to her brother. He broke the news to his family, and consequently, Angelou's uncles killed the man. It was that time when Angelou went silent due to shock as she started blaming herself for the man's murder. During her silent period, she became attracted to literature.

Themes within the poem

Confidence

Angelou displays the massive confidence that she has within her in the first verse of the poem where she says that

“You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies”

Her usage of this approach stems from her desire to be recognized as a strong person. She also seeks agreement from her audience for which she uses rhetorical questions throughout the prose.

Black Pride

Her pride in belonging to the African American race is explicitly visible in many of her compositions, including this poem. This pride stems from the oppression that she had to face as a child, and also entails heavy influence from her grandmother's abuse at the hands of a white man. In the poem Still I Rise, Angelou is seen to be stressing on her Black roots, which depicts her pride in being an African-American. Her abuse is clearly stated in the poem where she states that her past was painful. She has also made references to herself as being an ocean that is black, which further confirms her pride of belonging to this race. She grew up in a culture which preferred whites over blacks, and hence was being oppressed. Her sense of equality arose during the mid twentieth century when she participated in the civil rights movement, demanding equality for African Americans (Laird, Laird & Bey, 2009).

Feminism

Angelou's deep voice sometimes led to her being interpreted as having masculine characteristics, but her feminism is clearly portrayed in the sixth verse of the ...