Still I Rise By Sandra Cookson - 1124 Words

The author of â€Å"Still I Rise† is Maya Angelou, a well-known poet, author, and civil rights activist. This poem is about a poet who struggles to meet the social pressure and injustices of her time. Her poetry thus concentrates on two kinds of oppression – both racial oppression, and sexism. Amidst the challenges and adversities, she managed to survive and successfully claims that she will not be broken nor will she be defeated no matter how many times she is brought down by society. In this poem â€Å"Still I Rise†, I will be looking at critical works by Sandra Cookson, R. B. Stepto, and Lyman B. Hagen and stating why I agree with them. While Sandra Cookson claims that the poem is about the survival of black women despite every kind of humiliation, deploys most of these forces, as it celebrates black women while simultaneously challenging the stereotypes to which America has subjected them since the days of slavery(Cookson). I agree, because Angelou endured several injustices such as sexism, racism and criticism. Although Angelou faced these injustices, she triumphs over each one of them with pride. In addition, the 70s, many African-American feminists argued that black women were oppressed, not only because of their gender but because of their race. For example, in the fourth stanza, Angelou states, â€Å"Did you want to see me broken? /Bowed head and lowered eyes? /Shoulders falling down like teardrops. /Weakened by my soulful cries?† (Angelou 13-16). Here, the poet says how herShow MoreRelatedMaya Angelou: Speak Up Essay example1127 Words   |  5 Pagescomments, Angelou’s literary techniques †Å"enhance the capacity of her poetry to heal, liberate, and empower her readers† (Bloom’s Modern Critical Views: Maya Angelou 130). This idea of empowerment is especially evident in Angelou’s three poems â€Å"Still I Rise,† â€Å"Phenomenal Woman,† and â€Å"A Kind of Love Some Say.† Angelou’s life is an interesting one, and it leaves readers with little doubt as to why it became the inspiration for many of the themes in her poetry. Angelou was born on April 4, 1928 in StRead MoreAnalysis Of Maya Angelou s Caged Bird 1835 Words   |  8 PagesShakyra Milsap Dr. Marsha Newman English 102 April 4, 2016 Women’s Power Because I live in a community with a majority black population, it is very easy to know all of the famous African American people. Growing up with my grandparents, I always heard a lot about the loving Dr. Maya Angelou. She was a tremendous figure in their lives and a phenomenal woman. One day my family was sitting outside, and my mom was reading a book with a lot of famous poems. The one she read aloud was Maya Angelou’s