The works of Maya Angelou are considered treasures by many and especially by people that she advocated for and represented. She has many famous works including poetry collections such as The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou& And Still I Rise, as well as autobiographical work such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, The Heart of a Woman, & Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now.
One of Angelou’s most well-known poems is Still I Rise. Written in 1978,the poem was intended to address black slavery and civil rights issues in the United States. However, according to an analysis of the work by Andrew Spacey, the underlying themes of Still I Rise can be applied to any situation where there is oppression, indignity, and unfairness (source: owlcation.com).
All things considered, here are 7 Inspirational Messages taken from excerpts of renowned author Maya Angelo’s Still I Rise (source: poetryfoundation.org):
1. Refuse to let anyone discredit you. Know your value.
The first stanza holds Angelou’s strongest message. She is addressing those who want to defame her character with slander and “trod her in the very dirt” (line 3) by stating that despite what anyone may try to do, she will rise above it.
2. You don’t have to “prove yourself” to believe in your potential.
The second and fifth stanzas hold another message: You don’t need approval from others to believe in your potential. Others may not understand or respect your confidence and some people may be offended by your self-assurance. Let them believe whatever they want while you remain secure in your own beliefs.
3. Despite any opposition, don’t stop believing in yourself.
The fourth and sixth stanzas address an ongoing issue of those who intimidate and harm others: Your greatest weapon again someone who bullies is remembering that weak-minded people only attack the strong.
“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.”(stanza 6)
4. There is nothing wrong with having “high hopes” if you believe you can achieve them.
“Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.” (stanza 3)
5. Body Positivity will upset those who lack it, don’t pay attention to them.
A woman (or any person) has the right to feel desirable in their own skin. With or without make-up, with or without designer clothes, with or without the “perfect body”, with or without promiscuity, or with or without a romantic partner. Sometimes, people are offended by that. But that is their issue, not yours.
As far as sexual confidence, everyone has the right to have that without fear of retaliation from the same or opposite sex.
Angelou specifically addresses sexual confidence in this stanza:
“Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?”(stanza 7)
6. Your past does not define you. It is the here and now that is most important.
Those familiar with Angelou’s autobiographical work know that she had a very hard life. Part of stanza eight addresses her desire to rise above her painful past.
Sometimes, a person can believe that because bad things happened to them that they will always be hurting and will never move on. Their mistakes will be a permanent mark on their lives and legacies.
The past cannot be changed. However, in this present moment, you can start working towards healing. Seek counseling, medication, support groups, whatever you may need to help you. Some like to stay active doing what they love to help keep them grounded.
Angelou’s work and life are proof that you can rise above a dark past. A friend of Angelou’s, Oprah Winfrey, is also a survivor of a dark past. If you look carefully, you can find many public figures who have overcome their past and have risen to new levels.
7. Honor your past self however you see fit and then move on to the future to work towards who you will become.
The last stanza of Still I Rise holds a final message for the reader:
Leave behind your worst days of the past and rise above them. Envision a new dawn on the horizon. Remember the gifts of your ancestors and remember not to repeat the mistakes of the past or repeat dark chapters of history. Utilize what you’ve learned to make a difference.
About the Author
Dena Elerianis a Freelance Writer from Cleveland, OH in the United States. She enjoys writing fiction, but can adapt to nearly any writing style. She enjoys helping others while accomplishing personal goals of growth and prosperity. She is married to a photographer named Alex from London Dena also delves in cartoon illustration from time-to-time and has a few comic projects in the works.
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