And Still I Rise, Part Three: "And Still I Rise" Summary

The inspiration "Still I Rise" praises the resilience of the human race. In the face of faulty accounts of history, the speaker vows to succeed. Heritage receives more praise in "Ain't That Bad." The word, bad, is used in a slang way in a positive sense, emphasizing the culture of the people the poem praises. This culture is not only unique in their language, but also in their food and music. "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" echoes back to the history of the previous poems. The narrator is not afraid of life, despite ghosts from the past.

The narrator in "Bump d'Bump" remains ignorant of the truth of his/her heritage. He/she is repressed by lack of knowledge and cultural stereotypes. Knowledge, however...