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Still I Rise (1978)

Author: Maya Angelou
Type: Poetry · Lyric poem
Era/Period: USH Unit 6 — Civil Rights & Black Power; Unit 8 — 1970s
ELA Standards: 9-10.R.8 · 9-10.R.9
USH Standards: US.6_12.4 · US.6_12.5
Copyright: Copyrighted — excerpt only (first two stanzas)

What This Poem Is About

Maya Angelou wrote "Still I Rise" in 1978, during a time when African Americans were fighting for equality and civil rights. The poem is about the strength of Black people who have faced many challenges but continue to stand tall and overcome adversity. In these first two stanzas, Angelou addresses past oppressors and acknowledges that they might try to undermine her by writing negative things about her in history books or spreading rumors. But she doesn't let this discourage her; instead, she shows how resilient she is by rising above such insults.

Read It

Copyrighted — excerpt only (first two stanzas).

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt
And still, like dust, I'll rise.

Dust you can't wipe away,
I'll show myself off to the world.

Full text in And Still I Rise (1978, Random House). Available in most school libraries.

Why This Poem Matters

Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise" is significant because it speaks directly about the history of African American oppression and resilience. She was an important voice during the Civil Rights Movement, working alongside Martin Luther King Jr., and her poetry reflects this activism. The poem demonstrates how Black people have endured countless hardships but continue to fight back against discrimination with their strength and determination. "Still I Rise" also highlights the importance of self-respect and pride in overcoming obstacles.

ELA Standards Connection

Standard Connection
9-10.R.8 The poem uses metaphors, such as comparing herself to dust that rises again after being trodden on, showing how she overcomes oppression.
9-10.R.9 Angelou's argument is clear and strong throughout the poem; her structure involves repeating phrases like "I rise" to emphasize her unbreakable spirit.
9-10.W.4 Write an essay arguing why resilience is a necessary trait for overcoming adversity, using specific lines from "Still I Rise."

Social Studies Connection

This poem connects closely with the Civil Rights era of the late 20th century (1950s and beyond). It explores themes like racial prejudice, civil rights activism, and the fight against systemic racism. Standards US.6_12.4 and US.6_12.5 both require understanding how various social movements, including the Civil Rights Movement, shaped American society.

Key Vocabulary

  • Resilience: The ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.
  • Oppression: Unjust treatment or severe control exercised by one group over another.
  • Trodden On: To be treated harshly or unfairly; to suffer abuse or mistreatment.
  • Dust: Here, it symbolizes the Black community rising up again after being stepped on and ignored.
  • Rise: To improve in status or power.

Studio Ideas

  1. Write an argumentative essay about why resilience is crucial for overcoming oppression, referencing specific lines from "Still I Rise."
  2. Create a timeline of key events related to the Civil Rights Movement that connects with the themes in this poem.
  3. Discuss how contemporary issues like police brutality and voter suppression connect with historical challenges addressed by Angelou's work.

Pairs With

Why This Is Relevant Today?

"Still I Rise" remains relevant today as it addresses ongoing issues such as police brutality, systemic racism, and continued struggles for equal rights. The poem's message about rising above adversity is still powerful in a world where these challenges persist. For example, the Black Lives Matter movement draws parallels to Angelou’s defiance against societal oppression.

Poetry Collection · SDA Commons Reading Library · South High School

Note: Published in And Still I Rise (1978). Angelou was a Civil Rights activist who worked with MLK. The poem directly addresses historical oppressors ('You may write me down in history / With your bitter, twisted lies') while asserting unconquerable resilience. The final refrain 'I rise' appears 10 times. It is read at funerals, graduations, and inaugurations — President Obama quoted it.