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This video of Serena Williams reading Maya Angelou's inspiring poem, 'Still I Rise' is bound to leave you feeling all stirred and shaken - in a good way!
This video of Serena Williams reading Maya Angelou’s inspiring poem, ‘Still I Rise’ is bound to leave you feeling all stirred and shaken – in a good way!
Watch two legends from the literary world and the tennis world make a powerful, soul-stirring and political statement via one of the most beautiful and effective medium there ever was – Poetry.
Two women who may come from diverse professional fields but share a common story of racial disparity and gender prejudices and rising above it all to stand today where they rightfully are – proud, accomplished and victorious like the glorious morning sun. Still I rise!
Here’s shedding some light on the background and underlying message of this poem, ‘Still I Rise’. A poem which has gone on to become a cult of sorts on racial discrimination, dreams, endurance, hope and victory! Maya Angelou speaks up for the minority.
In her case, as a black woman in America, speaking up and fighting against the many shadows of darkness that haunted her past and continued to haunt her till her death last year.
As a black, South American woman who grew up in a segregated community, she learnt early on in life to fight her own battles and not let the prejudices of the society cow her down or break down her spirit. The beauty of a woman lies not in her submissiveness as expected from the society but in her confidence, courage and phenomenal spirit. The nights of severe adversities and obstacles may be many but…. Still I rise!
Lending power to this already packed poem ‘Still I rise’ is the reigning Wimbledon women’s single champion Serena Williams. The timing and the protagonist couldn’t be any more appropriate.
Serena Williams has just created history being on par with Steffi Graf’s record of 22 grand slam titles. She also clinched her 7th Wimbledon title when she defeated Angelique Kerber in two consecutive straights sets (7-5, 6-3).
It’s not just the timing of her victory or her African American lineage that makes her the perfect protagonist of the poem. But also, the timing in relation to the growing police brutality and racial issues, lurking America as evidenced by the recent Dallas shootings.
Serena has been quite vociferous in her latest interviews and raised grave concerns over the growing violence against the African American community in her country.
Without a doubt, the poem is beautiful just as it is. It has the right blend of all the elements of love, pain, optimism, intellect, wisdom, hope, grace, gut, wit and humor, But it takes on a whole different level of perfection and packs on a far, greater punch when you hear the verses flowing out of Serena William’s soul – her voice, the intensity in her eyes, her raw grit and tenacity simply shine through this delightfully inspiring video.
‘You’ refers to the society at large. ‘I’ refers to the minority individual, here the black woman! She compares a woman’s body and soul to diamonds and urges women, to truly understand their self-worth, realize their inner potential and make their own destiny despite societal limitations.
“You may right me down in history. With your bitter twisted lies
You may tread me in the very dust 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.
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.
Image Source – Youtube
Author, poet, and marketer, know more about Tina Sequeira here: www.thetinaedit.com read more...
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Neena was the sole caregiver of Amma and though one would think that Amma was dependent on her, Neena felt otherwise.
Neena inhaled the aroma that emanated from the pan and took a deep breath. The aroma of cumin interspersed with butter transported her back to the modest kitchen in her native village. She could picture her father standing in the kitchen wearing his white crisp kurta as he made delectable concoctions for his only daughter.
Neena grew up in a home where both her parents worked together in tandem to keep the house up and running. She had a blissful childhood in her modest two-room house. The house was small but every nook and cranny gave her memories of a lifetime. Neena’s young heart imagined that her life would follow the same cheerful course. But how wrong she was!
When she was sixteen, the catastrophic clutches of destiny snatched away her parents. They passed away in a road accident and Neena was devastated. Relatives thronged her now gloomy house and soon it was decided that she should be married off.
Women today don’t want to be in a partnership that complicates their lives further. They need an equal partner with whom they can figure out life as a team, playing by each other’s strengths.
We all are familiar with that one annoying aunty who is more interested in our marital status than in the dessert counter at a wedding. But these aunties have somehow become obsolete now. Now they are replaced by men we have in our lives. Friends, family, and even work colleagues. It’s the men who are worried about why we are not saying yes to one among their clans. What is wrong with us? Aren’t we scared of dying alone? Like them?
A recent interaction with a guy friend of mine turned sour when he lectured me about how I would regret not getting married at the right time. He lectured that every event in our lives needs to be completed within a certain timeframe set by society else we are doomed. I wasn’t angry. I was just disappointed to realize that annoying aunties are rapidly doubling in our society. And they don’t just appear at weddings or family functions anymore. They are everywhere. They are the real pandemic.
Let’s examine this a little closer.
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