Hear Her Roar: the Feminist Strengths in Phenomenal Woman and Still I Rise

People talk behind the speaker’s back and spread whatever rumors they can conjure, even to the point of ramming her face in the mud and really making a picture of her as a dirty, good-for-nothing person. Yet despite that, she still walks with her head high, knowing they're not true. And when people can't seem to understand why she’s not upset, they'll continue putting her down. And she'll just laugh it off, not really caring about what they say or do. The last stanza shows that even if she had a checkered past and no matter what she may have done before, she can still rise, she can still stand up, she can still look the world in the eye and tell them, “I will rise.” In lines 21-24, Angelou states, “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.” This shows that no matter what came Angelou’s way, she still rose to the occasion and made a difference. Thus, the racism that Angelou went through left its footprints in the making of her poetic

Oppressed women have been unjustly held back from achieving full equality for much of human history. A woman no matter neither color nor education faces discrimination on a day to day basis. Barriers that are place in their way to advancing includes: lack of mentoring, lack of opportunities for career development, biased rating and testing system and counterproductive behavior and harassment by colleges (Schaefer, pg 15). In the past, women did not have jobs and were to clean, cook and care for the children, also did not have the right to vote. While the man work long hours to provide for his family and gave orders as the women followed. As time went on and rights were given to women, the men did not like the idea that controlled was being lost. They refused to let women become equal to males. Women are allow to work the same career as males, but will never be paid the same as males. This paper addresses Maya Angelou life and how her writing and public speaking inspired women to overcome discrimination.

Maya Angelou, the current poet laureate of the United States, has become for many people an exemplary role model. She read an original poem at the inauguration of President Clinton; she has also appeared on the television show "Touched by an Angel," and there read another poem of her own composition; she lectures widely, inspiring young people to aim high in life. Yet this is an unlikely beginning for a woman who, by the age of thirty, had been San Francisco's first black streetcar conductor; an unmarried mother; the madam of a San Diego brothel; a prostitute, a showgirl, and an actress (Lichtler, 861927397.html). Her book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings argues persuasively

Maya Angelou, an African-American woman, wrote the poem, “Still I Rise,” in 1978 when racism was still prominent. Maya Angelou was reaching out to a racist community to prove oppression will not bring her down. Angelou brings up topics of what she and every other African-American person has to endure when living in their communities, and how they feel. She also brings up topics of oppression and marginalization throughout this speech to state that she will continue to rise up above it. Maya Angelou utilizes rhetorical questions, hateful diction, as well as, similes and metaphors to prove to others that she, and other African-American’s will rise against the racism and oppression they face.

In Sara Constantakis’s critique and explanation of Still I Rise by Maya Angelou, she reveals the bare bones of Angelou’s confidence, determination, and pride she has in her race to rise above societal normalities and expectations. The author introduces the idea that the so called perfects of our society would view Angelou’s attitude toward her degraded lifestyle as disturbing. The reality is she refuses to get dragged down by their prejudice and racism. I agree with this idea as Angelou writes that no matter what the perfects say or do, she will rise above them, not letting them affect her happiness. Constantakis also points out the poet’s direct confrontation of the perfects in saying she will not give them the satisfaction of knowing they

The poem “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou, addresses White people who discriminate African Americans. During this period of time, Black people were not being treated equally, with this poem Angelou wants to defend African Americans. As a civil rights activist it is her job to fight for people's rights. By employing simile, imagery, and repetition, Angelou defends African Americans against their oppressors and shows that people have to be confident and strong, and not feel put down but rise above their problems.

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.

The reader can assume that the speaker is a black woman. The first sassy image ‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells, pumping in my living room’ (lines 7-8). This image conveys the speaker walking with a bit of sass, or better yet unbridled confidence that says ‘look at me’. Stanza 3 lines 9-10 ‘Just like moons and like suns, with the certainty of tides’ three natural objects that will rise no matter. The poet is comparing how she continuously raises herself up emotionally to stay strong just like how the moons and sun rises everyday no matter what happens. Later in the poem, the speaker asks ‘Does my haughtiness offend you? (’line) promotes a feeling that the speaker does not care. Later echoes the question two stanzas later ‘Does my sexiness offend you?’ and ‘Does it comes as a surprise?’ This again creates an image of sass. Maya Angelou stands for how should be regardless to what society wants her to

The first two lines in the fourth stanza are questions similar to line ones in stanza two. This may also mean “yes” to the question. Angelou’s idea of perseverance is well represented throughout the poem in a variety of ways, most being through the examples of oppression. For example Angelou writes, “Did you want to see me broken?” a deeper thought process could be meant with the intention to relate the word “broken,” to the actual breaking of an African American during actual slave days.

After reading Maya Angelou’s poem, “Still I Rise,” it becomes very clear that Angelou is proud of her race, and finds power from her past, as well as her culture. Throughout the poem, Angelou reiterates the positivity that she associates with being black, and she does so while inciting feelings of great power and inspiration. She will still rise, no matter who, or what, attempts to tear her down. Angelou makes it very clear that she will not be silenced, she will not hide, and most importantly, she will not be ashamed of her race or

I find Dr. Maya Angelou to be a very interesting woman. She has lived a very productive life. She rose up in the face of adversary and succeeded in making a life for herself. Her numerous accomplishments testify to this fact. She did not come from a promising background, but she defied all the odds. During her childhood, she absorbed the faith and values of a traditional African American family such as love and respect for one another. She refused to back down from a challenge. She provides an excellent example of a strong, confident African American woman. She is not ashamed of where she came from. Her upbringings have helped

Maya Angelou’s poem Still I Rise is an astonishing piece of art. The reason I chose this poem is because it’s not only a poem, it’s a story. The poem is about Maya Angelou’s beliefs being a women of color about discrimination. It’s not just her personal story but a universal experience for those with an African American background. Throughout the poem, Maya Angelou uses many poetic devices to give us more in-depth meaning behind what is in the poem. These poetic devices help her poem flow, create emotion, and makes the read more interesting. The poetic devices Maya Angelou focused on throughout her poem are repetition, rhyme, metaphor, and symbols. These poetic devices work together to create an overall

Maya Angelou’s poem, “Still I Rise” shows a repetition of strength stanza after stanza. African Americans were faced with the challenges of oppression and slavery. African American women not only as a minority of African American race, but as a female, were faced with all those challenges, along with woman’s rights. It took 55 years after the abolishment of slavery for females to finally have the right to vote, under the 19th amendment. Maya Angelou’s poem expresses these challenges and overcoming them, in contrast.

Maya Angelou interprets in the poem “Still I Rise,” that she is supposed to speak up for herself and for other living African Americans. This poem conveys the message of human strength and capability to conquer suffering. The speaker is responding to decades and centuries of persecution and mistreatment. Furthermore, she states that nothing will hold her back from rising to any occasion, not even her skin color. By looking at the context and studying the tone and imagery in the poem, readers can understand how Maya Angelou states that African American women face difficulties every day, but they should consistently be confident and have pride in who they are.

Structured in first-person, the poem ‘Still I rise’ explores how Maya Angelou, along with her past family, possessed the resilience and persistence to overcome racial discrimination.  Maya is filled with might as this is very evident