“Still I Rise” does not have a physical setting. Instead, the poem is set within the social context of when the poem was published – 1978, almost a decade after the height of the Civil Rights Movement. At the time, Black Americans were still fighting for equality, and the poem highlights how the oppressive efforts of a white patriarchal society often stand in the way of progress. The poem draws on symbols of nature to highlight the speaker's unshakability, as well as allusions to the continent of Africa to underscore the speaker's connection to her ancestry. The poem's setting is therefore varied but ultimately speaks to a historical moment in which racial tensions were amplified and Black women were experiencing oppression in unique ways. One could argue, however, that the poem also has a timeless effect, as it speaks to the need to develop personal strength to overcome obstacles...