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Linda Galay

Ms. Jacobs

Freshman comp 2

26 October 2017

Poetry Analyses Formatted: Indent: First line: 0"

The Civil Rights Movement, also known as the American Civil Rights Movement, and

other names is a term that encompasses the strategies, groups, and social movements in the

United States hghjnmghjmnwhose goals were to end racial segregation and discrimination

against African Americans. They also aimed and to secure legal recognition and federal

protection of the citizenship rights given by the enumerated in the Constitution and federal law.

In the poem Still I Rise by poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou. Its a civil rights activist

sends a message of triumph over adversity throughout the poem and sets a strong tone.

Maya Angelou was an author, poet, historian, songwriter, playwright, dancer, stage,

screen producer, director, performer, and civil rights activist. Angelou writes from her

perspective as an African-American woman who endured unthinkable acts and cruelty, yet she

empowered enabled herself, through her inner strength. Maya Angelou is drawing her energy

from the centuries of mistreatment. The theme of "Still I Rise" is really about self-respect, and

confidence. In the poem, she uncovers how she will overcome anything with her self-esteem.

She shows how nothing can get her down and counters about the oppression of black people the

poem is about triumph over adversity. In the poem she asks the readers rhetorical questions like
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Did you want to see me broken? /, Bowed head and lowered eyes?/, Shoulders falling down

like teardrops, wWeakened by my soulful cries.(Line 16) She asks these questions because she

wants the audience to really think about what it is that she is saying and not just listen but

understand. Maya Angelous audience is American.

As Maya Angelou speaks to America, she uses a tone of self-confident assertiveness in

her poem to speak to the people Still I Rise. Her anger air of angry and confidence is felt with

sarcastic humor. She addresses the poem to her audience of oppressors by beginning with the

word, You. Tthe tone of the poem is an inward silent cry of everyone who has been

discriminated against at some point in their lives in some shape or form, individually or

collectively. and Iit epitomizes the mental torture of the victim more than the physical aspect.,

Tthe feelings of despair must not destroy their spirit; it must be used as a positive to not only

give them strength to rise above the torment, but to defeat it by showing the tormentors that they

will not be conquered by their prejudice. It also says that those persecuted in this manner have a

humility their persecutors will never have until they ask for forgiveness. The tone goes from it is

Simple like, known from, lines I rise, I rise, I rise; to pPlayful and also the lines that

symbolizing it are That I dance like I have got diamonds at the meeting of my thighs. & the

tone is also Dramatic like Im a black ocean, leaping and wide/ ; Welling and Swelling I bear in

the tide/; leaving behind nights of terror and fear (Line 33). In some cases people say Dont

listen to the tone listen to the message and in this case she made sure her message was heard by

impacting her tone. Throughout Maya Angelou life she has been all that she could be and more

she used her platform to send a message to wide America.

In conclusion, the tone of the poem is defiant and no matter what happens or what is

thrown at Maya Angelou, she will always rise. All in all, the poem still I rise is an inspirational
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poem with powerful repetitive energy, a universal message and a clear, positive pulse throughout

the poem. Not only does the poem speak to overcoming adversity but it gives readers a chance to

understand why African Americans need empowerment. There are so many situations that try to

destroy their spirts but to listen to angelou will cause them to really think about their inner

strength. This poem is still relevant today when so many events remind us of how far we havent

come within the last 50 years.

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Work cited

Maya Angelou Still I rise