This is a brilliant poem that most people celebrate and hold in high regard, but as soon as the Poetry Foundation posts a reading of it by Nicki Minaj, all these intellectual elitists come out of the woodwork to express how Nicki isn't "good enough" to read it. WTF? When was it passed into law that poetry can only touch the hearts of the "classy"? I hate snobs who think that culture is only for those they deem "cultured."
Everywhere pop culture I see folks celebrating this reading but you put it on the Poetry Foundation & elitists come out of the woods talking about is Nicki "good enough" to read this poem??? Like ugh this is why folks don't even wanna fuck with poets. This is so important because far too often black women like Nicki are devalued for expressing themselves sexually.
The line "does my sexiness offend you" was written by one of the most celebrated female
Black writers of our generation.
It's time we kill the idea that sexuality and intelligence are mutually exclusive. It's extremely dehumanising and shallow!
Candace's unsolicited commentary:
Lazy! Wish she'd memorized it. You don't recite Maya Angelou from a teleprompter! You feel it. You become it. You own it. You freaking memorize it!!!...but, at least she opened poetry up to many young women who love Nicki but have never heard of Maya.
Nelson Mandela recited Still I Rise at his presidential inauguration in 1994, and also read Angelou’s books while imprisoned on Robben Island. It was described as “Angelou’s iconic poem: a great shout of defiance that answers darkness with joy and despair with humour” in a Guardian rundown of her best work.
Speaking about the concert, Pharrell Williams told the Los Angeles Times: “Any solutions have to begin with dialogue, and we want to help get that dialogue going.”
The comments are hilarious. "Nicki Minaj is not the type of woman that should be representing Maya Angelou.". Meanwhile, Maya was a former dancer and sex worker and was known to have a filthy mouth. She embraced her sexuality as a woman and it radiated in many of her poems and writings. Romanticizing your heroes will only do you a disservice. Maya would've told you that straight up. Gon head Nicki!!!!
It would've been more impactful if they would've had someone that embodies the poem. I mentioned this yesterday....
You can learn something, or you can learn about someone...but it will never truly be a part of you until you experience it. And no there was no goosebumps over here cause Nicki does not embody the poem...she only read it.
Lemme share my experience on my walk this morning...
To the detractors that would make negative comments about Nikki reciting Maya's poem; remember that at one time Maya Angelou was a "Madam" at a whore house and her babysitter ran off with her son for a while. Read all of her autobiography's. You can live a "colorful" life and still grow into greatness. Stop tearing other black women down when their groove wouldn't be one you would slide in. Nikki is owning hers.
Nicki Minaj lit le poème de Maya Angelou, "Still I Rise"
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.
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.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
Give her a second to warm up and watch Nicki Minaj recite "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou.
This is a part of an entire special coming on A&E this Friday evening called "Shining A Light" about race and racism. Some POWERFUL stuff.
Dear Sanaa Lathan , some of my feelings for you Flared spontaneously when I heard this track today..how odd..cool tho..
by: Meek Mill & Nicki Minaj
I just watched this and I couldn't help but think of my Black colleagues and students who continue to rise, especially this week, while some super hateful stuff continues to happen. Just like this poem you inspire me.
The best two minutes of Nikki's career. If you have ever wanted to stab her listening to starships or whatever, let her make it up to you right now. Rest in peace to one of the strongest voices of our century. #mayaangelou
This has been my favorite thing today. I love Maya Angelou, and Niki reciting is just super fave. Love it!
i've read so many hateful negative comments when Nicki recites "Still I Rise" but do you think Maya Angelou - having a truly beautiful soul is capable of that hate?...i think not
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Still I Rise by Maya Angelou, performed in this video by Nicki Minaj.
#beInkredible
I had to share this. Anyone that knows me knows that I LOVE Maya Angelou. Like Nicki, I channel my inner Maya whenever I feel discouraged. Such beautiful women.
I Remember When Bianca Recited Phenomenal Woman In Ms.E's Class & She Dropped The Paper When She Was Done Like She Just Spit The Most Fire Verse In Life, Yo When I Tell You We Went Hammmmm She Really Bodied It Lmao #MemoriesNo. No. No. She is not representative of what this poem meant to Maya A. and her recitation was emotionless and flat.
"Does my sassiness upset you?/Why are you beset with gloom?/‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells/Pumping in my living room."
A method to the madness! You used your platform totally wrong. . You are before media 24/7 What we're you believing!
*screams uncontrollably* you know Maya Angelou up in heaven right now glowing with love.
Damnnnn. What they say about me
I don't know man fuck whats on ya biscuits
This really Touched me this Maya Angelou poem feels like it was written for me 🙌 so empowering
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