Response to “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou

Discrimination is what frequently motivates others to not give up. In particular, the poem

“Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou and in most situations that involve discrimination, those who are

faced with hatred tend to use that as a motivation. For example, the slaves in our past faced

discrimination for their race, and the only job they were given was to work on the southern

plantations. Many were put through so much pain unless they were living in the North, they had

an advantage of being treated fairly. Those who tend to discriminate against others with the

intent to hurt other people's feelings, don’t realize that they too have emotions, and feelings like

every other human being. It is a common habit for humans to judge one another, though we

would not be pleased if it were to happen to ourselves. We all have been taught at one point in

our lives to never judge others because of something they do not have or what they look like.

The most compelling part of the poem for me was that Maya Angelou, herself was a civil

rights activist. She reflects her past when writing this poem “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” (21-24). Angelou provides us with strong diction to emphasize the way treated others

because of her race. Angelou repeats the words “I rise” (29-43). She says this many times to

represent how many hardships hat she endured along with people similar to her. The poem's

purpose was to address the issue that discrimination is not okay, and through it, most people

did not give up and were determined to be treated fairly.

In this poem, Angelou signifies my theme determination, which was a key factor in the

past. Angelou, in these lines, provides her own personal past and how she was treated with

“Bringing the pie gifts that my ancestors gave, / I am the dream and the hope of the slave. / I

rise / I rise / I rise.” (39-43). I truly respect Angelou and her contribution she made to the history

as a civil rights activist. Telling us, the readers’ her past and how she responded to all those
who were disrespecting her and fellow people all because of their skin color. “Still I Rise” is an

extraordinary poem with so much meaning and words of inspiration to not give up and be

determined to accomplish what one wishes for, even during the times when one thinks

everything is falling apart.