Instruction: In small groups find evidence different interpretation of the

same poem

A) this poem is about racial discrimination

B) this poem echoes feminist agenda
C) This poem showcases the literacy achievement of the poet.

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION:

Still I Rise

Stanza One

Line 1: You may write me down in history

Line 2: With your bitter, twisted lies,
Line 3: You may trod me in the very dirt
Line 4: But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Interpretation:

The “You” in Line 1 refers to the white man and by extension the culture of
Christianity as a whole.

The “Me” in Line 1 refers to the black majority (The slaves and descendants of)

“Write me down in history” found in Line 1 represents the bible or the various texts
used by the white man as a means to justify the oppression of the Blacks.

“With your bitter, twisted lies” in Line 2 represents the ways in which the white man
contorts the meaning of said text to serve his needs. (For example that slavery was
punishment from God and to obey them would be to follow god’s command).

“You may trod me in the very dirt, But like dust still I rise.” This can be found in
Lines 3 -4 , it represents the brutality of slavery and can be likened to how Jesus was
prosecuted, and like the Blacks, he rose, however his resurrection was literal.

Summary

Throughout this entire Stanza it is evident that there are two stories being told, the
oppression of the Blacks throughout the years at the pleasure of the whites and how
this discrimination has affected them. And also a brief lesson on how Christianity was
used to justify this behaviour.
 Stanza Two

Line 1: Does my sassiness upset you?

Line 2: Why are you beset with gloom?
Line 3: ‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Line 4: Pumping in my living room.

Interpretation:

“Does my sassiness upset you?”, in Line 1 represents the Black people’s spirit in the
face of these hardships and inversely the frustration of the white man, this is proven in
Line 2.

“Why are you beset with gloom?”, in Line 2 represent the frustration of the white man
as the attitude of the black majority seem unwarranted.

“Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells, Pumping in my living room” in Lines 3-4
represents the depth of the black spirit that can be likened to oil wells, as well as the
fact that oil wells usually represent wealth (However this is not the usual wealth
associated with riches and gold but wealth of spirit and mind).

Summary

Stanza two serves as a reminder that despite the hardships the Blacks might face, they
will always overcome as they depend on a different source of wealth than their White
oppressors. They focus on the wealth of their spirit. And this, fact upsets the Whites.
 Stanza Three

Line 1: Just like the moons and like suns,

Line 2: With certainty of the tides,
Line 3: Just like hopes springing high,
Line 4: Still I rise.

Interpretation

This stanza represents the certainty of Black perseverance, the word “like”, is used
several times to compare Black perseverance to natural constants (The Sun, Moon,
Tides) to cement the fact Black people will always overcome.

Summary

Despite all hardships the black people might face, racial discrimination, chiefly among
them. Just as the sun rises every day, so will the Black people.
 Stanza Four

Line 1: Did you want to see me broken?

Line 2: Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Line 3: Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Line 4: Weakened by my soulful cries?

Interpretation

The lines in Stanza four recalls sentiments expressed in Stanza two as the black people
seem in unusually good spirits despite how they were being treated. In addition, by
using question marks at the ending of majority of the lines could also represent that
these were rhetorical questions that were further expressed in a sarcastic undertone.
Lines such as “Did you want to see me broken?”, “Bowed head and lowered eyes?”
and “Weakened by my soulful cries?”.

Summary

Words such as “Broken, Bowed, Lower, Shoulders falling and Weakened”, shows that
in this stanza it represents the attitudes the whites expected the blacks to show after
being oppressed and discriminated against. However, this was not the case, in fact it
was the complete opposite reaction. This shows the intelligence of the blacks as they
knew how to infuriate their oppressors.
 Stanza Five

Line 1: Does my haughtiness offend you?

Line 2: Don’t you take it awful hard
Line 3: ‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Line 4: Diggin’ in my own backyard.

Interpretation

Stanza five is also similar to Stanza two, as the blacks again, uses rhetoric questions as
a means of upsetting and confusing their oppressors. The Line “Does my haughtiness
offend you?” is used to show their disdain for the whites but also in a passive
aggressive way as they could not display outright violence on the White minority. This
confused the Whites as they could not understand how these people would show
contempt towards them but still smile with one another as if they have their own
source of wealth that can keep them happy. This is show in Line 3-4 “Cause I laugh
like I’ve got gold mines, Diggin’ in my own backyard”.

Summary

Rhetoric is a continuous device used in this poem as a means of comedic relief, due to
the severity and sensitivity of the topic being described in this poem. By asking
rhetorical questions and then contrasting them in a seemingly indifferent way, with
lines that emphases the joy, spirit and will power of the blacks is shown throughout
the stanza.
 Stanza Six

Line 1: You may shoot me with your words,

Line 2: You may cut me with your eyes,
Line 3: You may kill me with your hatefulness,
Line 4: But still, like air, I rise.

Interpretation

“shoot” found in Line 1, represents a psychological injury as the pain is not physical
as a gunshot is portrayed to be. Instead, it is the damage the words will inflict. Using
the white man’s mouth as the gun, and his words as the bullets, this can keep the black
people down or more accurately, attempt to “you may.”

Line 2 “You may cut me with your eyes”, again does not represents a physical pain
but a psychological torment. Just as the blacks may show their disdain for the whites,
the whites “may chose to” with their eyes show their disdain towards the blacks.
Importantly, the whites have the ability to back up their disdain whether it be lashes in
slavery or in the modern context, deny the black similar opportunities.

Lines 3-4 “You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I rise.”
Exemplifies the fact the blacks were at the mercy of the whites, the term “You may”,
suggest that it is the choice of the white man to act on these feelings of contempt.
However, despite how the white man behaves, the black people again insist I will rise.

Summary

Words such as “shoot, cut and kill” are used in a metaphoric sense to show the
potential psychological damage the whites are able to inflict on a whim if they so
choose, however the blacks will still overcome.
 Stanza Seven

Line 1: Does my sexiness upset you?

Line 2: Does it come as a surprise
Line 3: That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
Line 4: At the meeting of my thighs?

Interpretation

“Does my sexiness upset you?” this line references the racial targeting of African
people’s pride in themselves, specifically the women. As the women were used for
inappropriate sexual advances, as they were seen as chattel (3/5th of a human being).
Another interpretation of this line could be that the white man was angry at the fact
these black women had physical features that their women (White women) lacked.

“Does it come as a surprise, that I dance like I’ve got diamonds, at the meeting of my
thighs?” found in Lines 2-4 represents the surprise of the white man to the Blacks,
especially the women to this treatment. The dancing referenced in line three could
alluding to cultural dances practised by the blacks when they feel oppressed.

Summary

This stanza shows that even one of the simplest aspects of human behaviour,
confidence, bothers the white man if it is shown by the blacks.
 Stanza Eight

Line 1: Out of the huts of history’s shame

Line 2: I rise
Line 3: Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
Line 4: I rise
Line 5: I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Line 6: Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Interpretation

“Out the huts of history’s shame”, symbolizes the stepping out of the box the White
man has kept black people in for years as well as shaking off the negative
connotations attached to that box (The shame in question as well as limited
opportunities).
Another interpretation could be the actual huts the slaves lived in while they were
chattel of the white man and the shame associated with living in said dwellings.

“I rise”, is stated as a line by itself to show the firm stance of blacks against racial
discrimination.

“Up from a past that’s rooted in pain”, this line strengthens the premise of line one, by
stating that they will trod on from the horrors they were privy to as it has given them
strength despite the pain.

“I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide”, Lines
5-6, which serve as a metaphor for the growing development of the Blacks. By
referring to the blacks as an Ocean, it finally completes their transition into a constant.

Looking back at earlier lines in the poem Black people are likened to constants, such
as the moon or sun. However, in this stanza the blacks are called The Ocean “I AM A
BLACK OCEAN”.

Summary

Stanza eight shows the confidence increase of black people, instead of saying “still I
rise”, it is now “I rise”. Instead of saying “Like a” it is now “I am”.
 Stanza Eight

Line 1: Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

Line 2: I rise
Line 3: Into a daybreak that is wondrously clear
Line 4: I rise
Line 5: Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
Line 6: I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
Line 7: I rise
Line 8: I rise
Line 9: I rise

Interpretation

“Leaving behind nights of terror and fear”, this line references the end of the suffering
and paranoia that comes with being oppressed or held back. Followed by the
sentiments “I rise” which again reverberates confidence in themselves. (The blacks)
that they will rise.

“Into a daybreak that is wondrously clear” can be seen as the turning of a new leaf as
well as all the negative aspects of their struggle being left into the night. A play on
how slaves would also try to escape from plantations often times at night to gain
freedom. But this freedom was gained during daybreak.

“Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave.”
These two lines can be seen as a trade-off, the black ancestors fought for their freedom
(the gifts the ancestors gave) and the upliftment and advancement of black people (the
gift the modern generation is charged to give).

The refrain “I rise” is repeated several times to symbolize the permanent triumph of
black people.

Summary

BLACK PEOPLE OVERCAME ALL ADVERSITIES AND STILL THEY

ROSE.