“Still I Rise” is the title poem in Maya Angelou’s third collection of poetry, And Still I Rise (1978). One of Angelou’s most acclaimed works, the poem can be broadly regarded as an exemplary assertion of the dignity and resilience of marginalized people in the face of oppression, more specifically, a critique of anti-black racism. In a defiantly confrontational tone, the Black female speaker of the poem addresses an unspecified “you”, understandably, the perpetrators of patriarchy and racism.

The opening stanza establishes the speaker’s defiant and confrontational tone:

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise. 

Here, Angelou is directly referencing the long history that the people of colour has with slavery. Historical narratives are frequently told from the perspective of the oppressor and oppressed groups are often stereotyped with negative traits that reinforce the dominant narrative, further dehumanizing them. Angelou is referring to biased literature, opinions, beliefs, etc. that were one-sided and dated. When the oppressor controls the recording and interpretation of history, the oppressed are portrayed as “primitive” or “savage,” erasing their rich cultures and complex histories. Although slavery had been abolished in 1865 following the ratification of the 13th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the African American people continued to experience its harmful and strong-willed effects on society. The last two lines of the first stanza addresses direct oppression. However, the irony lies in the fact that, in the attempt to try and oppress her, the oppressors are giving her strength and determination to survive. With the intention to stop her from moving forward by stomping her into the dirt, it has an opposing effect. She is able to rise higher. The presence of oppression strengthens her resolve, and followed by “I’ll rise” emphasizes her resistance to give in. Typically a negative and dirty image, Angelou is able to twist dust into a positive and strong image to show her community’s desire for equality. Using the symbol of dirt to convey the unvalued and downtrodden significance of the African Americans to society, she counters this with the simile of dust. She implies that, similar to dust which rises from the ground when stepped on by a heavy foot, her community will rise up and fight against this oppression.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

The first line of the second stanza talks about the speaker herself and sets up the tone for the poem. She talks about her self-confidence and audaciousness. She is triumphant portraying her will to survive. The tone entails the speaker’s anger towards the oppressor but also the pride in her identity as a part of the African American community. She also notices that the oppressors are upset at her defiance and success (“Why are you beset with gloom?”).