Maya Angelou Still I Rise

Maya Angelou is a leading literary voice of the African-American community. She writes of the triumph of the human spirit over hardship and adversity. “Her style captures the ca-dences and aspirations of African American women whose strength she celebrates.” (Library of Chattanooga State, n. d.) Maya has paved the way for children who has had a damaged

Maya Angelou was considered numerus things during her life she was an author, poet, actor, director, singer, dancer, writer and civil rights activist. She was considered one of the most renowned and influential voices of current views. She is one of the few recognisable civil rights activist working right beside Martin Luther Jr and many other leaders including presidents. Working in the Reagan and Bush ad ministry. She wrought a best-selling auto biography “I know why the caged bird sings”. Trough-out her legacy she continuously created poems promoting civil rights from her personal and social views. “still I rise “is one of her earlier working but is still consider one of the greatest poems on discussing the social views at the time of tis publishing and still hold value to todays current events. This text will be Analysing the poem “still I rise” But first discussing the experiences that Maya Angelou has gone through. Then Analysing the core message that the poem and how the two relates.

When Maya was raped, she blamed herself for the death of her rapist, and became muted for 5 years. She used this story as a growth mechanism. She wrote a book titled, “I know why the caged bird sings” (Angelou), which is about the civil rights movement and a young lady struggling to make it through. The book reflects her life from when she was an insecure little girl to growing up and realizes people cannot be mad at the world forever. She learned that she can trust herself and be who she really is. This book is what got her noticed. She translated a message so clear throughout the book,that black girls can conquer independence and be great at it. New York Times Journalist Katherine Schulten says, “Maya Angelou’s often-taught “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” already know, for Ms. Angelou, “finding her voice” meant something much more than just learning to write well”(Schulten). What this quotes means is Maya Angelou purposely wrote this book to teach and become an inspiration to everyone. She found her voice and not its time for everyone else to find their voice ! She is such a great soul that blessed so many people's hearts with her inspirational teachings and poems. Ultimately, Maya Angelou defied expectations by finding her voice and becoming such a strong independent woman during rough times when everything seemed impossible. Her actions were worth every minute spend, til

Louis. The man who assaulted her was her mother boyfriend, who was later found dead. He was “kicked to death” the same night of the incident (Bloom 3). The incident concluded with five years of silence for Maya (Eller, 2). Maya’s rape incident was compared to the suffering of the African American community in the South during the 1930’s and 1940’s. Edward Eller, an assistant professor of English at Northeast Louisiana University writes that; “Just as the child had to give in to her rapist because she has no choice but to endure and survive, the blacks had no choice” (Eller, 2). The fight for Maya to fulfill her American Dream of finding a home, and being accepted into American society goes hand in hand with the fight for civil rights for the African American society. Eller states that Angelou’s voice through her literature showed African Americans that they could overcome racism and segregation; “Because Angelou shows us we can do more than endure. We can Triumph” (Eller, 2). Young Angelou along with the blacks in the South were looking for a place to call home, together they searched for a place where they belonged, were they fit in.

Majority of African American women get judged on the day to day basis. When scrolling through social media there will be large amounts of individuals who will bully or even belittle a colored female because of the natural kinks of her hair, her sense of fashion, the full shaped curves of her body, and the color of her skin . The poem “Still I Rise” by the well-known poet, Maya Angelou, specifically describes the reasons why she had so much confidence; even if she were to be judged by her appearances and mindset. This poem is about embracing females, but it mainly introduces similar life situations that many African American women have experienced. The symbols and point of view that Angelou specifically added in her poem made her readers realize that there are many meanings to this poem.

Maya Angelou is not just known for being a poet, novelist, educator, producer, actor, musician, and civil right activist, but also as one of the most renowned and influential voices. Maya Angelou was born as Marguerite Johnson on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in Stamps, Arkansas. As a child, she had a passion for art. She attended public school in Arkansas and California, and won a scholarship to study dance and drama at San Francisco’s Labor school. At the age of fourteen, Dr. Angelou dropped out of school and became the first female cable conductor. Dr. Angelou later went back and finished high school. A few weeks after she graduated from high school, she gave birth to her son Guy. Even though being a single

Maya Angelou, or Marguerite Annie Johnson, was born on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis. Missouri. Her childhood started off rough, with her parents separating at an early age, which caused Angelou and her brother, Bailey, to live with their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. At the young age of 7, an unfortunate of events occurred, such as Maya Angelou being raped by her mother's boyfriend and the vengeful murder of her mother’s boyfriend, that caused Angelou to become mute for several of years. Angelou eventually moved to San Francisco, California and had won a scholarship to study arts at California Labor School.

Maya Angelou was a woman of many names. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1928. Her father, Bailey Johnson, was a doorman and a naval dietician. Her mother, Vivian Johnson, was a professional gambler, registered nurse, and owned a rooming house and bar. As a young girl she endured abuse and trauma that eventually led her to stop talking, for six years she believed that her voice had killed the man who had attacked her but through writing and performing, she found her voice. “I am Maya Angelou, whatever that means to whomever it means.”

In the poem ‘Still I Rise’ by Maya Angelou, the poet uses repetition, metaphors and similes to express to her audience about how she has overcome racism in her life through demonstrating a strong, proud and defiant attitude to inspire others.

Critically acclaimed writer, Maya Angelou, explores the concept of oppression and one’s ability to rise above in her poem “Still I Rise.” The piece’s purpose is to inspire African Americans to rise above the implications of oppression and confront individuals who stand in support of injustice. Angelou establishes an ardent tone and evokes a complex emotional response in the reader through her sophisticated utilization of charged language, allusion and imagery; however, she still manages to keep the piece candid by focusing her audience with personal pronouns and rhetorical questions designed to prompt self-reflection. Angelou passion is primarily conveyed through her combined use of allusion and imagery and amplified through her charged language. In the third line, Angelou paints a clear image of oppression as he describes that her oppressors want to see her “Shoulders falling down like teardrops/ Weakened by [her] soulful cries” (15-16).

A poem that conveys the theme discrimination is Still I Rise by Maya Angelou. Maya Angelou helps the reader see the struggle and feel what the black society had been treated like, and how the black society came together as a form of unity and strength as they were being treated like dirt. The theme discrimination is evident through the quotes “Does my sassiness upset you?

Maya Angelou. Famous poet, actress, screenwriter, dancer, and civil rights activist. Maya’s childhood wasn’t the best, having her parents separated at a young age removing her father from her life. She was born on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri and died on May 28, 2014, in Winston Salem, North Carolina due to a heart failure. She and her brother Bailey were sent to live in Stamps, Arkansas. Her first few months were very difficult to her when she experienced racial prejudice. She chose to live in Arkansas with her mother soon after the separation. There, On top of being an outsider due to her skin tone, she suffered too in being sexually harassed by her mother’s boyfriend at the age of 7. When her uncle's found out, they killed him.

Still I Rise Analysis Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise”, is a fascinating poem that compels a mixture of tones. From playful and defiant, comical and angry, to self-assured and bitter. The poem’s tone is triumphant just as the title implies. The story in this poem is about an African American woman who has been hurt physically and emotionally by diversity and has risen above everything.

‘Still I Rise’ is about an African American who addresses the white oppression on blacks. The author, Maya Angelou portrays this impact in her poem as a building point for her. She uses the phrase “Bringing the gift that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and hope of slave” to bring her whole idea together. As you read through it more you see that she is taking the strength that her ancestors had and learning form it and letting her ancestors wish that they had for the future and making it happen. Still I rise was published in 1987 which was a very controversial time because that was when speaking out about the mistreatment of about the blacks was challenged.

Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” takes place in the mind of Maya Angelou. She is talking about someone who is saying bad things about her. Even though they are saying bad things about her she won’t let it bring her down she will rise. She shows her Confidence by saying that she will rise, another way she is showing her Confidence is by being confident in her heritage, and her Confidence is evident through her displays of literary devices.