The Quote Challenge: Maya Angelou

#thequotechall

#curatorreview

**Trigger warning :warning: this post mentions sexual abuse**

The quote I’ve chosen for my entry is from Maya Angelou, who I’ve ired for quite some time.

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Contents

I. About Maya Angelou

II. About The Poem

III. The Quote

IV. My Interpretation and Why I Chose It

V. My Tattoo

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I. About Maya Angelou

April 1928 - May 2014

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Maya Angelou was born in Missouri and was an African American writer, poet, civil rights activist, screenwriter, actress and singer. Despite an early traumatic childhood experience where she was sexually abused by her mother’s boyfriend, Maya Angelou went on to become one of the most prolific writers of the 20th Century.

She was awarded more than 50 honorary degrees, some of which include:

❉⊰ Matrix Award (1983) given by the New York Association for Women in Communications

❉⊰ North Carolina Award in Literature (1987)

❉⊰ Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album (2002)

❉⊰ Voice of Peace Award (2008)

❉⊰ Presidential Medal of Freedom (2010) given by President Barack Obama

❉⊰ And of course, a Google Doodle (2018)

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’I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings’, part one of her seven volume autobiographical series, was the first non-fiction bestseller from an African American woman when it was published in 1969. Angelou published over 30 books, ‘And Still I Rise’ was her third poetry volume and was published in 1978. My chosen quote comes from her poem ‘Still I Rise’.

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II. About The Poem

‘Still I Rise’ is a powerful and empowering poem that encapsulates the voice of the oppressed and the discriminated individual.

”Although written with black slavery and civil rights issues in mind, "Still I Rise" is universal in its appeal. Any innocent individual, any minority, or any nation subject to oppression or abuse could understand the underlying theme - don't give in to torture, bullying, humiliation, and injustice.”

~ Andrew Spacey

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III. The Quote

The quote I’ve chosen is from the third stanza. The full poem can be read here

”Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise.”

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IV. My Interpretation and Why I Chose It

I chose this quote because it’s definitely my favourite stanza from the poem. I think Angelou’s use of poetic devices like the simile, paints a powerful picture of hope, perseverance, resilience and inner strength.

I like how Angelou has interwoven nature within the narrative. I think this reflects the transient and ever-changing nature of life. The rush and flurry of ‘tides’ is for certain, yet no tide is exactly the same - each circumstance is unique. I think the oppressed individuals themselves embody all the hope and change that is needed.

Furthermore, Angelou’s tone expresses self-confidence and assertiveness. To me, this quote is also about finding your own unique voice and choosing to become your own salvation.

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I used to find it hard to express myself. I would layer, suppress and internalise everything that I felt, my queerness included. I would experience a lot of fear. I would try and find external validation when this could only really come from me, internally. I would experience social anxiety and for a long time I didn’t know that I had a voice.

For me this quote serves as a reminder of my own strength, resilience and perseverance during the difficult times of my life. And that no matter the circumstances, hope is and always will be there if I keep choosing to find it.

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V. My Tattoo

As a huge book nerd I’ve always wanted to get a quote tattoo. But what with the whole permanency situation of getting one, I wanted it to be something really really worth getting and meaningful to me. So towards the end of my complete nervous breakdown a few months ago, I finally knew what that was going to be.

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At first I put getting the quote done on hold..because its a poem ultimately telling the story of racial oppression, and I’m white. So I became worried that maybe this wasn’t a good idea. But then I came across a blog post related to this. And this person had stated that, poetry knows no colour, only emotion, character, imagery, value and finding your own meaning. And this helped me to make up my mind. This tattoo is a visual reminder for when I need it the most.

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Sources

Biography

Poetry Foundation

Owlcation

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