The aim of this study is to show how racial discrimination is represented through Maya Angelou’s three selected poems: “Still I Rise”, “Alone”, and “Caged Bird”. The study is going to explain about racial discrimination study to draw how the African-Americans are treated unwell, including how the author struggle against racial problems.
This study used descriptive qualitative research as the primary data were taken from the three selected poems by Maya Angelou “Still I Rise”, “Alone”, and “Caged Bird” along with a few articles from international journals, books, online magazines, thesis, essays and literary dissertation which gave an explanation about racial discrimination as the secondary data. The data gathered by reading the three selected poems “Still I Rise”, “Alone”, and “Caged Bird” several times highlight some important parts.
The result of this study found two points. The first, “Still I Rise”, “Alone” and “Caged Bird” were poems by Maya Angelou which wrote the early twentieth century. Angelou described herself and her race as who suffered discrimination in her society. She described the black’s life as aimless and hopeless, with no hope for her dream because of racial discrimination. The second, in the three selected poems of Maya Angelou also portrayed the story of the struggle of black African-Americans against racial discrimination. She never gave up overcoming the problem of racial discrimination and changing the problem as the power to fight against racial discrimination. She never gave up to struggle to gain freedom and bright life for herself and the other African-Americans.
Key Words: Racial Discrimination, The Struggle of Black African-Americans, Maya Angelou’s Three Selected Poems.