For example, in 1978, Maya Angelou published the poem “Still I Rise” about the experience of being a black woman in America. One
of the messages of the poem is that, despite verbal and physical violence against her, she still continues forward. In 1999, 2Pac released “Still I Rise,” which contained many allusions to Angelou’s poem. By using allusion, 2Pac linked his story to Angelou’s, implicitly showing a history of violence toward black people in America without spelling it out for his audience.
Read the following excerpts.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
– Maya Angelou, “Still I Rise”
Act up if you feel me, I was born not to make it, but I did,
The tribulations of a ghetto kid, still I rise.
Still I (still I) I rise (I rise,)
Please give me to the sky (the sky.)
And if (and if) I die (I die,)
I don't want you to cry.
– 2Pac, “Still I Rise”
How does Tupac allude to Maya Angelou or her poem in his song?
A. He mentions her by name in one line.
B. He uses the themes of the poem only.
C. He quotes several lines of the poem directly.
D. He uses the title of the poem throughout the song.
