“How did you escape it all: the poverty, the rape at an early age, a broken home, growing up black in the South?” This is a question Maya Angelou is incredibly familiar with, and her response: “My natural response is to say, ‘How the hell do you know I did escape? You don’t know what demons I wrestle with’” (Weller 14). These words of wisdom sing with Angelou’s determined, humorous personality. Not only did Maya have a brilliant personality, she is remembered as a “public intellectual.” She may not
“Still I Rise” is a poem by Maya Angelou; an African American poet, educator and civil-rights activist. The poem provides a sarcastic response towards all the negative words or action brought towards women. Angelou uses the poem to metaphorically describe the strength to always survive the battle against people’s criticism of women. This poem delivers the message of strength and ability to overcome hurt, but the main message in this poem deals with the strength to retaliate against discrimination