Race and Racism

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.

          This extract is taken from the poem “And Still I Rise” written by Maya Angelou when racism was still prominent. Maya Angelou is a brilliant American author, poet, and civil rights activist. She is best known for her 1969 memoir, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”, which was the first nonfiction bestseller by an African American woman. Angelou received several honors throughout her career for her outstanding literary works during her time period. As “Still I Rise” is primarily concerned with the struggle that black people went through to overcome humiliation and injustice, thus, it is obvious that it can be understood from a mimetic perspective as it imitates the real-life at that time.

         This poem is basically related to an oppression matter. Maya Angelou is a black woman who lived in a period when black people were suffering because of racism. Being colored means that you will suffer greatly at the hands of white people. In fact, there are several points by which Angelou emphasizes her point of view in a quite confident manner. First, she shows the struggle of the black society by using several sharp words or hateful diction like sword, cut, kill, hatefulness, and shoot. For instance, using the word “shoot” is really significant as it refers to the violence and harshness of her oppressors.  Using the word “cut” is also a reference to the violence of the racist society, showing that their cruel looks are so painful as if they are knives. She bravely informs the government, policemen, and her racist society, who are abusing her black community, that she will rise above this all.  She reaches to the white community in order to prove that oppression will never bring her down. She sends a clear message at which she is full of hope about remaining strong enough to conquer any struggles related to the white people’s oppression. Then, Angelou uses repetition and metaphors to express to her audience how she has overcome racism through demonstrating a solid, proud, and bold attitude to motivate her black community.  Moreover, Angelou's usage of the pronoun “you” and other times the first pronoun “I” shows the division of both races. “You” is related to the white people. Whereas, “I” is related to her own community. “But still, like air, I’ll rise” (Angelou), by using this simile, she announces to her audience directly that no matter what her oppressors do to harm her, she will rise above the struggles, just as air rises.  One further point is that she remains positive, strong, and proud of her own identity in the whole poem, and that truly inspires her audience to be proud of their own identity and history. Demonstrating her success in overcoming racism and discrimination is a profound way to influence her people in order to arise over whatever is thrown on them and overcome the racial discrimination.

         To conclude, “And Still I Rise” is one of the ideal poems to know how America used to treat colored people in the past. To tell the truth, Maya Angelou creates an accurate picture of the society during the last centuries. She also depicts the racist society and their racial attitudes with a proud and haughty attitude, and this is literally appreciated as it changes the society to a better place.

                                                                  

                                                                 Works cited

 “Maya Angelou Biography”. A&E Television Networks, https://www.biography.com/writer/maya-angelou, Accessed 12 Nov, 2021.

“Maya Angelou’s Still I Rise”. Bartleby research, https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Maya-Angelous-Still-I-Rise-FKE5G6AWG8S5, Accessed 13Nov, 2021.

"Still I Rise Literary Elements". GradeSaver, Web, https://www.gradesaver.com/still-i-rise/study-guide/literary-elements13, Accessed 13Nov, 2021.