I Too Sing America Comparative Essay

The author of “Still I Rise” is Maya Angelou, a well-known poet, author, and civil rights activist. This poem is about a poet who struggles to meet the social pressure and injustices of her time. Her poetry thus concentrates on two kinds of oppression – both racial oppression, and sexism. Amidst the challenges and adversities, she managed to survive and successfully claims that she will not be broken nor will she be defeated no matter how many times she is brought down by society. In this poem “Still I Rise”, I will be looking at critical works by Sandra Cookson, R. B. Stepto, and Lyman B. Hagen and stating why I agree with them.

In the poems, 'Still I Rise' and 'I, too, Sing America', Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes illustrate the idea of celebrating black pride to overcome racism. Through metaphor and symbolism in their poems they show the significance of the African American struggle for equality. In 'Still I Rise', Maya Angelou shows how the black race is battling to overcome racism and hardship. She uses the metaphor, "I'm a black ocean", to show how the black race has been oppressed.It shows that they have come back stronger, like waves that crash back to the shore. The line, "welling and swelling", symbolizes the past that is rooted in struggle of black people - how they have been hurt and destroyed by the "hatefulness" towards them.

Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise,” written in 1978, acknowledges the racism and segregation during the Civil Rights Movement. During this time, although no longer slaves, the African Americans have been given little rights and opportunity in America. Maya Angelou wrote this poem to prove to other American citizens that she is unfazed by their hate, while she strengthens her people’s motive to reach equality. Angelou utilizes metaphor, imagery and repetition to reveal how proud she is of her minority’s strength.

     The voice of one person can send a profound sound into the hearts of people to help liberate one’s mind. That profound sound is seen through poetry. The creative structure and style of poetry creates a different form of writing that can either have rhythm, alliteration or have a direct message. In the poem “I Too Sing America”, by Langston Hughes had a significant message in that he desired to voice his expression on the issue of black oppression in America. Langston basic themes focused on the American Dream and the possibilities of hope and advancement were constantly present in his poetry. The tension between the unrealized dream and the realities of the black experience in

Lastly, the use of similes in the poem effectively conveys the key idea further. In the simile, ‘Just like moons and like suns…still I’ll rise’, the poet is comparing herself to the moon and the sun, which are two very powerful things. The common phrase, ‘the sun will always rise tomorrow’ directly connects to this simile because by comparing herself to the sun, Angelou connotes to the reader she is certain that she will always ‘rise’ again tomorrow just like the sun, no matter what happens to her. By showing her determined and resilient attitude to not give in to oppressors through this simile, it strengthens the key idea of this poem. Further use of similes also helps to reveal Maya Angelou’s bold and powerful attitude, for example, when she says, “‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells pumping in my living room.’ By using this

The poems “ I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” and “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou are both poems that speak on the issues of the mistreatment of African Americans, and how these challenges were created simply by the color of one’s skin and overcome. While the poems “Mother To Son” and “ Dreams” by Langston Hughes refer to the hopes of African Americans for a better standard of living, and the consequences of departing from these dreams of bettering themselves. This comparison of these four poems is important because all four aim to better society for African Americans, and inform the population struggles that they maybe be able to relate, and provide them with the inspiration to keep pushing forward. These poems explain why the desire for equality was so important to African americans at this time, and what they had to go through to get it. I believe that these poems are all used as methods of expression, information, as well as rebellion against the racial in injustice that was suffered for so long.

The ballad still I rise is composed by Maya Angelou; an African American writer, instructor and social liberties extremist. The ballad's strict importance is a snide reaction towards the general population who look down on the speaker. To the storyteller, the sonnet figuratively depicts her quality to dependably survive the fight against individuals' feedback of her and her predecessors. All around, this ballad conveys the message of the human's fantastic quality and capacity to defeat hurt. In any case, the fundamental and most essential message this ballad gives is the storyteller's quality to counter against separation of races and sexual orientation; which offers seek after other people who experience the ill effects of a similar difficulty.

“Still I Rise”, written by African-American writer Maya Angelou, includes a character who rises “Up from a past that’s rooted in pain.” No matter what words are said against her, lies are told about her, threats are made towards her, or words are written against her, she takes the past and uses it to fuel her confidence. The way she writes creates a deep sense of pride and feeling, while giving the poem life and helping the audience realise that they, too can rise. The diction, literary devices, and theme help the speaker portray her feelings about the topic of oppression in her experience.

Maya Angelou is a woman that has done so much in her life time I would not know where to begin. There is always one poem that she published that will stick in my heart forever. The poem “Still I Rise” is a phenomenal poem that I think everyone of every race should have the pleasure of being a part of. "Still I Rise" You may write me down in history, with your bitter, twisted lies, you may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? 'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells pumping in my living room. Just like moons and like suns, with the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise. Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops, Weakened by my soulful cries. Does my

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 rhetorical appeal of amplification is used by Maya Angelou through her use of the phrase “I rise,” using that phrase repeatedly allowed her audience to understand and feel the emotions she was trying to portray in her poem. The rhetorical appeal of common ground was used by Angelou through her use of the phrase of “Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave,” (poets.org) the use of that phrase establishes the common ground of the civil rights movement. For her to continue by saying that she is the dream and hope of a slave is her reference to the successful outcome of the civil rights movement. By establishing the common ground of the beginning and end of the civil rights she has allowed herself to be relatable to many generations for years to come. Due to the fact that those who experienced the civil rights movement first hand and those who came after the movement are both able to relate to her poem is one of the main reasons her poem is such a success.

“Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou, depicts the hidden theme of courage behind the various literary devices such as similes, metaphors, and repetition. Her poem was written in the presence of racism during the civil rights movement. In her words throughout the poem, she expresses her internal mindset to the reader.

The powerful message of the depiction and strength of the characters—men or women, young or old, rich or poor—tell the story of their strength and will to stand up against their oppressors and achieve success. Success is this sense, is not necessarily measured by economic or monetary goals, rather it is determined by if they fight against and prevail over the meaningless future that white America has predestined for them. Angelou creates a tone of resilience when the character the poem tells her oppressors, “You may shoot me with your words/ You may cut me with your eyes/ You may kill me with you hatefulness/ But still, like air, I’ll rise” (“Rise” 20-25). Hughes creates the same tone when the man in his poem is not discouraged by the manner in which he is treated by his “family”.

These poems both strongly addressed the problem of racism that was occurring in America during these times periods. They both talked about gaining freedom in the future and becoming people in society that will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the actions they perform and the nature of their character. Even though both authors face so many struggles, they show that even through all the pain that they will rise and come out on top stronger than ever before. In each poem though, you really get a look into the different perspectives of society and the different challenges the contrasting genders and social classes faced. In “I, too” by Langston Hughes, we really get a look into how black men faced their struggles in racism by fighting through the struggles like men, strong and powerful, and one day gaining equality. “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou is a compelling poem and differs quite a bit from Langston Hughes poem. First of all, Maya Angelou was a black woman and with her being a writer, especially one that became famous, was so unheard of during her time. She defied the standards of society and was such an amazing role model for women and showed them that you could be part of a minority, independent, and successful all while fighting the challenges of being a women and

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou is a very moving ballad poem, and has a positive and strong tone throughout it. The main theme of this poem is discrimination. It portrays a strong woman living with confidence and a positive attitude. The reason why I chose to write my essay on Still I Rise is because it has a very powerful message. Although this poem was written in 1978, I feel as if anyone can relate to it even in this time period. Everybody experiences discrimination at some point in their lives, and this poem teaches readers to have pride and hope in their selves in order to overcome any obstacle that comes their way. There are quite a few poetic devices in the poem I will be focusing on such as similes, metaphors, repetition and