You should have a copy the poetry collection Poetry Speaks Who I Am. Read Maya Angelou's poem, "Still I Rise," which appears on
pages 4-5 in the anthology, and look for examples of dialect. As you read the poem, think about why Angelou chose the language she did. What purpose do the examples of dialect serve when they appear?
Still, I Rise” is primarily about self-respect and confidence. In the poem, Angelou reveals how she will overcome anything through her self-esteem. She shows how nothing can get her down. She will rise to any occasion and nothing, not even her skin color, will hold her back. “You may write me down in history.