LITR 5731: Seminar in American Minority Literature
University of Houston-Clear Lake, fall 2001
Poetry Presentation Index

Maya Angelou, "Still I Rise"

Tara Edwards, poetry reader / discussion leader

Michelle Stephenson, recorder

            Maya Angelou’s poem "Still I Rise" depicts how far African Americans have come in inclusion in American society, yet it also addresses the undeniable injustices that continue. There is a transition in tone from works such as the Classic Slave Narratives to the contemporary poem that brings the reader from the hope and the dream of the slave to contemporary African Americans who are living out that hope and dream of the slave. The poem, often speaking directly to the reader in the second person "you," assures the reader in a tone of unmistakable firmness that through everything, "Still I Rise."

            Angelou’s poem ends with the declaration that "Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,/ I am the dream and the hope of the slave." The truth of these lines becomes particularly evident in the comparison of the Classic Slave Narratives and Angelou’s poem itself. The Classic Slave Narratives often address the reader in the second person "you" as well, but the tone differs dramatically. The tone taken in the Classic Slaves Narratives is often apologetic, such as in the slave narrative of Linda Brant: "Pity me, and pardon me, O virtuous reader! You never knew what it is to be a slave; to be entirely unprotected by law or custom; to have the laws reduce you to the condition of a chattel, entirely subject to the will of another" (Gates 386). The submissive tone is necessary in the Classic Slave Narratives in order to appeal successfully to the white audience. Angelou’s poem, in comparison, makes no such apologies, and uses no submissiveness. It is, in fact, the opposite: "Does my sassiness upset you?…Does my haughtiness offend you?…Does my sexiness upset you?" The tone is not apologetic or submissive, but announces that "Still I Rise" despite the oppression. The switch in tone itself is evidence that the speaker in Angelou’s poem is "…the dream and the hope of the slave." The apologetic and submissive voice in the slave narratives was necessary to pave the way for the voice in Angelou’s poem. The fact that such apologetic tones are not used in Angelou’s poem is representative of the hope and dream of the slave.

            The idea of the contemporary speaker being the hope and dream of the slave continues not only through the idea of a tone of no apologies, but also through images of extraordinary strength used in Angelou’s poem. Angelou’s writing includes images such as oil wells pumping in the speaker’s living room, gold mines digging in the speaker’s back yard, and the speaker walking as if she has diamonds between her thighs. Such phrases could never have been used effectively with the audience of the Classic Slave Narratives. The fact that such images can be used with a contemporary audience shows the progress made.

            While Angelou’s poem demonstrates the advancements made from the times of the slave narratives to the end of the Twentieth Century, there is also a reminder that there is still much progress to be made. The line itself "Still I’ll rise" that is repeated throughout the poem indicates an ongoing, unfinished process. The questions themselves asked in the poem such as "Does my sassiness upset you?…Does my haughtiness offend you?…Does my sexiness upset you?" indicate the injustice in the idea that sassiness and haughtiness and sexiness of the African American speaker could upset and offend the reader. While much progress has been made, and while there is extraordinary strength in the voice of the speaker, there is still much more progress to be made.

            Angelou’s "Still I Rise" demonstrates an extraordinary transition from the language necessary in works such as the Classic Slave Narratives to more contemporary literature. This transition can be seen particularly in the tone towards the second person "you" in the Classic Slave Narratives and Angelou’s poem. The images used in the poem are images of strength and acknowledgement of progress made towards equality in contemporary society. At the same time, the poem sheds light on the work that remains unfinished.

Question posed for discussion: Considering particular comparison to the Classic Slave Narratives, how does the tone of the speaker, especially in respect to addressing the second person "you," impact the reader in the Angelou poem?

Recorder Notes:

Tara-Angelou addresses the reader just like the slave narratives but her tone is different. She doesn’t apologize but is more accusative than the narratives. For example, Equiano says, "forgive me reader" while Angelou clearly makes no apologies.

Philonis- says that Angelou is saying, "Did you expect this (kind of attitude)? Ha! I’ve got something for you!"

Dr. White- Angelou wants to be accepted as an equal, while the slave narratives were careful to "keep their place". Angelou is saying that she is okay with "being me" even if society isn’t.

Jennifer -Angelou is attacking stereotypes/prejudices. She doesn’t "bow her head" or "lower her eyes". She has pride. She also uses terms such as diamonds, oil wells, gold, etc. to describe herself. These are things that common people don’t have.

Andrea Dunn- Her poem shows her strength. She refers to her past ancestors. No one can make or break her. Frederick Douglass also talks about not being broken in his narrative.

Dr. White- Of all the slave narratives, Frederick Douglass’ voice is the closest to Angelou’s voice (agrees with Andrea about not being broken and not apologetic).

?-She’s a survivor but still something is holding her down.

Jennifer- the phrase "history’s shame, night of terror and fear" could refer to her rape as a child.

David Miller- Compares poem to Claude McKay’s "We Wear the Masks". It’s defiant. It doesn’t matter what is done to her, she will still survive. Compares her writing to traditional, romanticism-addressing and/or apologizing to the reader.

?-Angelou is stating that she is the dream and the hope of the slaves.

?-The slaves that wrote their narratives had to apologize so that Angelou didn’t have to. She became the dream.

Donnette-Authors of the slave narratives couldn’t alienate their readers. We (white people) should be apologizing, not the slaves.

Male Student-There is a difference in time. People (readers) are cheering her on, unlike the readers of the slave narratives.

Philonis-The slave narratives’ texts were about the experience of the slave in relevance to white people. Angelou focuses more on the individual and on independence.

In her lines, "Does my sassiness upset you?", she is focusing on herself.

Male Student-The persona of Angelou is just like her actual voice.