Maya Angelou and Oodgeroo Noonuccal in their poems ‘Still I Rise’ and ‘We are going’ explore the scandalous nature of discrimination and expose the reasons for its need to be challenged. Where Angelou explores the nature of discrimination in the context of a defiant African American woman in her free verse poem, Noonuccal , in contrast, exposes the anguish of continued prejudice and the annihilation of her Indigenous community after European settlement. ‘Still I Rise’ commences with Angelou’s narrator challenging white men, their discrimination and oppression. Taunting them at each step she refuses to permit its acceptance or tolerance. In contrast, Noonuccal describes and challenges the impending annihilation of her Indigenous community at the hands of white men. Angelou’s …show more content…
She reminds that regardless of how hard the try “like dust” she will rise against their oppression and discrimination. In contrast Noonuccal through her imagery, introduces the last who “remained of their tribe. ” The group appeared alliteratively “semi-naked”, “subdued” and “silent” because they had been displaced and disrespected by their fellow white Australians. Rather than challenge them like Angelou, Noonuccal’s narrator reminds them that the Indigenous people are the original custodians of the land because they “belong(ed)” there and were “the old ways”; ways that white settlement has deemed unworthy of preserving. Angelou’s narrator continues to rhetorically question whether white man wishes to “see (her) broken” or with “bow(ed) head and lower(ed) her eyes?” because if they do she will not allow
Angelou and Fisher’s styles differ greatly, however, they both used very similar plot structure in which they introduced the common stereotypes of the places they were speaking of, and they shot it down with reality. Angelou speaks of “harmonious black music drift[ing] like perfume through this precious air” (Angelou, 3) but later on crushes that fantasy with the true “flesh-real and swollen-belly poor” (Angelou, 5) of the South. In the same manner, Fisher speaks of Marseilles “reputation as world capital for dope, whores and street violence” (Fisher 6) but later in the passage her states that “a trip through old Marseilles/ cannot fail to thrill” (Fisher 21, 22). Thus, Fisher and Angelou organized their plot structures in order to have the same effect on the audience.
...derstand what they are and are going through. If the reader belongs to another minority or is a new emigrant to Australia will identify itself with the anger and frustration other readers might feel guilty just because they thing they belong to a privileged group. I felt the injustice of inequality that emerges form this poem collection and the uselessness. There were no suggestions how repair what was done . The author shows in the poem that the hurt and anger are part of the aboriginal identity.
This piece of autobiographical works is one of the greatest pieces of literature and will continue to inspire young and old black Americans to this day be cause of her hard and racially tense background is what produced an eloquent piece of work that feels at times more fiction than non fiction
In Maya Angelou's autobiographical novel, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", tender-hearted Marguerite Johnson, renamed Maya by her refined brother Bailey, discovers all of the splendors and agonies of growing up in a prejudiced, early twentieth century America. Rotating between the slow country life of Stamps, Arkansas and the fast-pace societies in St. Louis, Missouri and San Francisco, California taught Maya several random aspects of life while showing her segregated America from coast to coast.
"Angelou, Maya (née Marguerite Annie Johnson)." Encyclopedia of African-american Writing. Amenia: Grey House Publishing, 2009. Credo Reference. Web. 12 March 2014.
Maya Angelou lived through a time where she was discriminated against for not only her race but also her gender. In her poem “Still I Rise” Angelou sarcastically talks about how no matter what is thrown at her she will rise above it and she will do it with resilience and confidence. Her poem discusses racism and sexism and gives minorities and women a sense of hope to overcome and endure both of those things. Angelou’s self-assurance in the poem makes you believe that you too can overcome whatever obstacle. Although this poem was intended for blacks, and women, and specifically black women, the poem helps build up strong and courageous people no matter what race or gender you are. Maya Angelou in “Still I Rise” uses both pathos and ethos to
Throughout life graduation, or the advancement to the next distinct level of growth, is sometimes acknowledged with the pomp and circumstance of the grand commencement ceremony, but many times the graduation is as whisper soft and natural as taking a breath. In the moving autobiographical essay, "The Graduation," Maya Angelou effectively applies three rhetorical strategies - an expressive voice, illustrative comparison and contrast, and flowing sentences bursting with vivid simile and delightful imagery - to examine the personal growth of humans caught in the adversity of racial discrimination.
Maya Angelou’s “Equality” depicts a more patient yet tenacious rebel than described in Dunbar’s poem. “You declare you see me dimly”, she begins, “through a glass that will not shine.” Maya describes the denial of her boldness, of her rebellion; but, she continues to march, chanting “Equality and I will be free. Equality and I will be free.” She identifies herself as a shadow, unimportant to those she opposes— but she intends to repeat the mantra “Equality and I will be free” until she is heard. The sixth stanza left me in literal tears (and I am not an emotional person, thank you very
Over the course of history, poetry has been used to amuse, express feelings and provoke thought. Poetry has also been used as a powerful tool of protest to influence and change attitudes. One poet who did all these things is Oodgeroo Noonuccal. Noonuccal is an indigenous Australian woman who wrote in the 60s into 90s. She portrayed indigenous people suffering under the oppression of the European settlers in Australia. One of Noonuccal’s poems, ‘Time is Running Out’, expressed a very powerful message against mining. In this poem, she urges the indigenous people to act, defend and fight back against the oppressive and greedy European miners before the earth is destroyed. Noonuccal fulfills this purpose in several ways. Firstly, her powerful
In Maya Angelou’s third book of poetry And Still I Rise, the personal struggles of the African American Woman are brought to life through poetic works. With inspirations drawn from personal journeys of Maya Angelou herself, powerful poems praise, celebrate, and empathize with the feminine colored experience. Angelou’s writing sheds glaring light on themes of feminine power, beauty, and perseverance, raising the African American Woman to a pedestal that demands respect and adoration. For Angelou’s audience, the everyday woman is presented equipped with all the necessities to thrive and shine in the face of adversity. In Maya Angelou’s works “Phenomenal Woman”, “Woman Work”, and “Still I Rise”, audiences are able to connect to the strength and virtue of the woman that is brought to life through the praising of femininity, and through its power to make an impact on society.
Two well regarded and recognized poets, Maya Angelou and Alice Walker, wrote lots of different renowned poetry that is appreciated for its beauty and its truth. Both poets are African American woman, although in different times, many of their words rang true to one other. Their work can be compared and contrasted by understanding the poems as two separate pieces of work, and then looking at how each are similar and different in their own respects.
Rising Up in Still I Rise by Maya Angelou ? Still I Rise? by Maya Angelou is directed towards blacks on how to be proud of their ancestry, themselves, and their overall appearance. The poem is a special and motivating poem that African-Americans (and other races for that matter) should read and take to heart. According to African-Americans, Maya Angelou states that no matter what white Americans (slave owners) say or do to African-Americans (slaves) they can still rise up to make a better life for themselves and their race as a whole.
Noonuccal expertly conveys the ongoing pain of her people caused by this crime in We Are Going and The Dispossessed. Symbolism in the line “’Rubbish May Be Tipped Here’. Now it half covers the traces of the old bora ring” emotionally moves us all, evoking guilt of our ancestor’s blind destruction of the Indigenous culture. The final stanza is particularly impactful using a combination of repetition of “gone” and a defeated tone, to evoke great shame within myself and fellow non-Indigenous readers whilst also highlighting the elimination of the Indigenous peoples. Writing in second-person perspective, Noonuccal deeply involves us in The Dispossessed, evoking empathy within us all.
The authors state that “health and reproductive rights and advocacy for combating domestic violence and sexual discrimination can be directly attributed to the liberal feminist thought,” domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence deprive women of their fundamental ability to live with dignity (Bernard and Onwubiko 61). Maya Angelou gives African American women hope to not let anything from the past affect them. Maya Angelou uses a tone of confidence, fulfillment, and sincerest when she states, “Just like moons and like suns/ With the certainty of tides,” in which she is going to conquer every single one of her difficulties (9,10). The reader can infer that the speaker will rise up even if life has gotten difficult for her and she will not let others manipulate her.
Maya Angelou demonstrates the theme in “Still I Rise” of, Through perseverance anyone can rise up to challenges in their lives, by Figurative language, Symbolism, and Repetition. First of all, She uses Figurative Language to show the theme to the reader by describing how people act to her. According to the Angelou, “You may shoot me with You words you may cut me with your eyes You may kill me with your hatefulness.” This tells how people talk to here look at here and hate her because she is African american. Also, according to Angelou, “I walk like I’ve got oil wells pumping in my living room, I laugh like i’ve got gold mines diggin’ in my own backyard.”