Racism In Maya Angelou's 'Still I Rise'

Maya Angelou is an African American author, poet and former civil rights activists. Sill living, Angelou is one of the most influential authors of our time. She is most notably recognized for her profound way with words. Her poems and Memoirs inspire many people throughout the world. The majority of her earlier work in poetry and novels deal with the struggles of her adolescents. This is important because many young women who read her work gain so much from her perspective yet she is relatable to older people. This equality of appealing to both young and old is what has kept her words alive. One of Maya Angelou’s most famous poems, “Still I Rise” written in 1978 is an example. In the poem Angelou uses repetition and metaphors to convey to readers how she overcame racism. Angelou does an exceptional job of showing her strength through oppression, showing her struggles of being an African American female in America and she effectively shows how she overcomes racism.

The poem “Still I Rise” is about overcoming oppression with grace and moving on despite the hateful words and actions of oppressors. The poem is written with Maya Angelou herself as the speaker. It is written in the present tense displaying that she has overcome all her hardships. There is an underlined “you” in the poem that could be referred to “whites” or her oppressor. The “I” in the poem refers to her; she is a representation of her African American ancestors. She writes about how she overcame racism, and personal experiences. She proves that the color or her skin will not hold her back, from what she is destined to be. This poem has many references to slavery.

Angelou tells the story of someone who is slung through the mud but despite it walks away with confid...

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...ites about how the gifts that her ancestors gave her, eluding to that fact that they are never forgotten, they are the reason she rises. Knowing what they had to endure makes it that much more rewarding for her. By repeating the phrase “I rise” she reinforces that she overcomes. She rises above discrimination.

This poem deals with racism, such a horrible topic, yet it leaves readers with a sort of happiness and hope. Although Angelou faced hardships in her life, she is able to endure them with pride and hope. Angelou does an exceptional job of showing her strength through oppression, showing her struggles of being an African American female in America and she effectively overcomes racism. Her Refusal to remain defeated is an inspiration to all. Its teaches readers that all human beings posses a strength within, that can help to overcome many obstacles in life.