Publication of "And Still I Rise"

On 12/08/1978, Random House published Maya Angelou’s third volume of poetry, And Still I Rise. The collection followed her earlier poetry books Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ’fore I Diiie (1971) and Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well (1975). The release added to Angelou’s growing body of poetic work during the late 1970s, a period when she was also active as a lecturer, writer, and public speaker. And Still I Rise includes poems addressing identity, resilience, love, and social injustice. The title poem, “Still I Rise,” became one of Angelou’s most widely recognized works, focusing on persistence in the face of discrimination and adversity. Other poems in the collection explore personal relationships, historical memory, and expressions of confidence and self determination. Angelou’s style blends conversational language with rhythmic structure, reflecting her background in performance and spoken word traditions. The 1978 publication strengthened Angelou’s presence as both a memoirist and poet. Poems from the collection were later widely anthologized and recited in public readings. The book remains one of her most frequently cited poetry volumes and contributed to her continued influence in American literature during the late twentieth century.