Still I Rise
Still I Rise is one of Maya Angelou's most famous poems, first published in her 1978 collection And Still I Rise. Speaking in a direct, repeating refrain, the poem answers those who would write the speaker down in history with bitter, twisted lies and insists that she will keep rising regardless. Drawing on imagery of dust, air, oceans, and gold mines, Angelou affirms Black dignity, womanhood, and survival against a long history of oppression. The poem's confident voice and rhythmic structure made it a touchstone read at gatherings, memorials, and celebrations, and it is among the most widely quoted American poems. Often anthologized on its own, it captures the resilience that runs through Angelou's life and work, from her memoirs to her later role as a national voice.
Also by Maya Angelou
What you might want to know about Still I Rise
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
Maya Angelou's celebrated poem of defiance and resilience in the face of oppression and contempt.
It is a single famous poem by Maya Angelou, published in her 1978 collection And Still I Rise and often anthologized on its own.
Still I Rise was written by Maya Angelou, published in 1978 by Random House.
Still I Rise is 112 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, Still I Rise takes most readers about 2 hours to finish.
Still I Rise is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.
