AIN’T THAT
BAD?
BY MAYA ANGELOU
Ain’t That Bad?
Dancin’ the funky chicken
Eatin’ ribs and tips
get down, jesse jackson
Diggin’ all the latest sounds
dance on, alvin ailey
And drinkin’ gin in sips.
talk, miss barbara jordan
groove, miss pearlie bailey
Puttin’ down that do-rag
Tightenin’ up my ‘fro
Now ain’t they bad?
Wrappin’ up in Blackness
an’ aint they black?
don’t i shine and glow?
an’ ain’t they black?
an’ ain’t they bad?
Hearin’ stevie Wonder
an’ ain’t they bad?
cookin’ beans and rice
an’ ain’t they black?
goin’ to the opera
an’ ain’t they fine?
checkin’ out leontyne price.
ain’t that bad?
Black like the hour of the night
when your love turns and wriggles close to your side
dressing in purples and pinks and greens
black as the earth which has given birth
exotic as rum and cokes
to nations, and when all else is gone will abide.
living our lives with flash and style
ain’t we colorful folks?
Bad as the storm that leaps raging from the heavens
bringing the welcome rain
now ain’t we bad?
bad as the sun burning orange hot at midday
an’ ain’t we black?
lifting the waters again.
an’ ain’t we black?
an’ ain’t we bad?
Arthur ashe on the tennis court
an’ ain’t we bad?
mohammad ali in the ring
an’ ain’t we black?
andré watts and andrew young
an’ ain’t we fine?
black men doing their thing.
Meaning behind
“Ain’t that bad?”
“Ain’t That Bad?” is a typical representation of
stressing “Black is Beautiful”; “bad” is the black
slang for “good”. Angelou praises black culture,
mores, customs, and leaders in this poem. Black, in
the poem, is symbolized as the source of new life.
Coupled with the earth and night, “black” implies
the enormous creative power and achievements
that black individuals have done. The intentional
coupling of black and night is also a resistant act
to demystify the black myth. In early white
literature, just as nights, the black to the white are
mysterious, wild, dangerous and irrational. When
referring to African Americans, night contains the
negative meaning by the white. However, “black
night” in this poem bears positive meanings of
regeneration and immense power of the black.
general
overlook
The poem is written in free verse, meaning that it
doesn’t follow a specific rhyme scheme or meter. It
has a total of 10 stanzas and 46 lines. Angelou uses
colloquial language and dialect, mainly used in the
black community.
The main themes are:
Resilience, endurance and empowerment
Identity, indviduality and self confidence
Pride in black culture
Unity and solidarity
Cultural heritage
language analysis
Angelou uses an apostrophe in
place of dropping a letter to
represent slang that was
usually associated with the way
Dancin’ the funky chicken
eatin’ ribs and tips
“and drinkin’ gin and sips” may
suggest us that black people
African American’s spoke during
diggin’ all the latest sounds
enjoy drinking gin in small
that time. She does this to nearly
and drinkin’ gin in sips
quantities... maybe in shots
every verb throughout the
whole poem.
The song “Do the Funky Chicken”
“eatin’s ribs and tips” may
was a popular song by Rufus
suggest us that angelou is
Thomas in the 1970’s. Although
refering to one of the most
the chicken dance itself dates
typical black dishes, ribs. The
further back than 1970, Thomas
third line may mean that black
brought immense popularity to
people at those times, used to
the dance and the song remained
always enjoy newly released
iconic for RnB and Soul radio.
songs.
“wrappin up in blackness” may
suggest us that She is positive
and confident that being
dressed or acting what would
be considered stereotypically
black during her time only made
African Americans more unique
and admirable.
Angelou promotes taking pride
in black culture and identity
through out the poem.
“do-rag” is a hair covering used
by black people. “’fro” is the
slang used for afro, which is a
common hairstyle amongst
black people. This may suggest
us, that for Angelou wearing a
do-rag and fixing up an afro
are customs to be proud of and
celebrate.
Angelou suggests us that she
accepts these details to be
associated with only black
people and encourages them to
be seen as positive
representations of, and not
one’s that undermine, black
culture.
puttin’ down that do-rag
tightenin’ up my ‘fro
wrappin’ up in blackness
don’t i shine and glow?
“don’t i shine and glow?” is a
rhetorical questions that she
may be asking us readers. This
may suggest us that Angelous is
proud of her blackness and
that she “shines and glows”
with/in it.
Angelou may also be implying
that being comfortable with
being black alludes to a
natural outpour of radiance.
Language analysis
Stevie Wonder is a famous black American
musician and songwriter. Stevie Wonder
received a honorary award at the BET
Hearin’ Stevie wonder
Honors Awards 2012. Maya Angelou also
cookin’ beans and rice
received this award in the same year. The
goin’ to the opera
first line of this stanza may suggest us
that Angelou was keen into listening
checkin’ out leontyne price.
Wonder’s songs.
“cookin’ beans and rice”, with this
“going’ to the opera checkin’ out
Leontyne Price is a well known American
Soprano and one of the first black
line angelou might be showing
leontyne price” these two lines
women to be a lead artist in an opera.
another example of a typical
are connected to eachother as
This may be the reason why Angelou
black/african cuisine dish. Like
angelou may have went to the
included her in this poem. In 1952, Price
she previously did in first
opera house to “checkin’” (slang
was touring as a cast member for the
stanza.
for look/see) leontyne price.
opera “Porgy and Bess” which also
starred a young Maya Angelou in it.
get down, jesse jackson
dance on, alvin ailey
talk, miss barbara jordan
groove, miss pearlie bailey
Barbara Jordan was an American
politician and civil rights activist.
angelou may have decided to include
“get down” in slang means to
speak up. Jesse Jackson is an
American civil rights activist
and Baptist minister.
alvin ailey was an American
choreographer and activist. Him
and Angelou briefly danced
together in the 1950’s. This may
suggest us on why angelou
wrote “dance on” to symbolize
that ailey must and will
continue to dance
(with/without her) (dead/alive)
jordan in her poem as both of them
are women, black, activists, civil
rights activists and both
participated together in a public
conference with the topic “facing
evil”
Pearlie Bailey was an American actress
and singer.
She was in the 1959 film version of
“Porgy and Bessy” in which Angelou was
an uncredited dancer. the word
“groove” is a slang for enjoy
oneself/to take great pleasure.
fun fact:
During 1954 and 1955, Angelou
toured Europe with a
production of the opera Porgy
and Bess.
language analysis
In reference to all the successful and popular AfricanAmerican individuals previously mentioned, Angelou uses the
Now ain’t they bad?
word “bad” with a positive connotation.
Here “bad” actually means good and something appreciated.
an’ aint they black?
Similar to how words like “sick” can mean something
an’ ain’t they black?
agreeable or positive, “bad” is used to highlight those
an’ ain’t they bad?
The main message of the poem becomes very clear in this
an’ ain’t they bad?
stanza. by using this repetition of questions, Angelou is
individuals as worthy of praise.
simply asking the readers, are those people not individuals
an’ ain’t they black?
we should all respect and appreciate and are they not all
an’ ain’t they fine?
black individuals? She’s emphasizing the fact that the
potential of African-Americans should not be overlooked
since they have proven themselves as being noteworthy.
language analysis
Angelou uses a simile in this stanza “black like the
hour of the night”, angelou may be using this
simile to express to us readers that the Hours in
the night are not only dark in colour but are
Black like the hour of the night
considered to be powerful. in the second line,
when your love turns and wriggles close to your side
angelou gives us the image of two lovers sleeping
black as the earth which has given birth
beside each other, which may evoke a sense of
to nations, and when all else is gone will abide.
comfort and belonging. in the third line angelou is
using another simile to express the similitude of
“black” and “earth” when giving birth; angelou may
be doing this to symbolize the importance and
significance for women, especially black women,
of giving birth and comparing it to earth giving
birth.
continuation of previous stanza analysis
"To nations": This suggests that Blackness has
contributed to the creation and development of
entire nations and that black people are everywhere.
"And when all else is gone": This part of the line
conveys a sense of permanence and resilience. It
implies that even when everything else fades away or
to nations, and when all else is
disappears, Black culture and identity will endure.
gone will abide.
This could refer to the enduring strength and
cultural heritage that has survived centuries of
adversity, including slavery, discrimination, and
social challenges.
"Will abide": abide may suggest that Black culture is
not just a fleeting or temporary phenomenon. It is
something that will continue to exist and thrive,
regardless of external circumstances or challenges.
It speaks to the enduring spirit and resilience of
Black people and their culture.
bad as the storm that leaps raging from the heavens
bringing the welcome rain
bad as the sun burning orange hot at midday
lifting the waters again.
Like the word “Black” was used in
different metaphors previously,
Angelou uses the word “Bad” to give
different representations as well.
The word “Bad” is alluded with the
“bringing the welcome rain” means
the rain that a “raging storm”
brings.
power of natural influences. Both a
storm and the sun are powerful
While “lifting the waters again”
images of nature that humans have
means when the heat of the hot sun
no control over but are in fact
makes the waters evaporate (lifting
dependent and subordinate to. Using
them in comparison to the word
“Bad” relates the act of being “Bad”
similar to an unattainable force of
nature.
the water to vapor into the air).
arthur ashe on the tennis court
mohammad ali in the ring
andre watts and andrew young
black men doing their thing.
Arthur Ashe was a black American
worldwide tennis champion. Maya
Angelou provided voiceover and
audio for the documentary about
Ashe called “Arthur Ashe – Citizen
of the World” in 1994.
Andrew young is a black
american politician and activist.
He worked closely with Martin
luther king in the civil rights
movement. Angelou mentions
him to acknowledge his
mohammad ali was a black
American professional boxer
and activist. Angelou was very
close to him as she describes
significant fight and effort to
american politics and civil
him to be so big and so gentle
at once.
rights as a black man.
Andre watts was a famous
pianist and professor. Angelou
may have mentioned him to
celebrate his achievements and
contributions to the world of
music as a black man.
“black men doing their thing” is
a line that suggests us that all
these black men are following
their passions, being united,
following their goals. “their
thing” may symbolize that all
of them have their own
uniqueness.
Dressing in purples and pinks and greens
Exotic as rum and Cokes
Living our lives with flash and style
Ain't we colorful folks?
The reference to "purples and pinks and
greens" suggests us readers that individuals
within the Black community often embrace
bold and vibrant colors in their clothing
choices.
“exotic as rum and cokes” in this line angelou
perhaps is linking the uniqueness and
exoticism of Black culture to the flavors of
rum and Cokes. It implies that Black culture,
like this classic drink combination, has a
distinct and appealing flavor that sets it
apart and adds to its allure.
“living our lives with flash and style” here
angelou may suggest us That she is celebrating
the confidence and flair with which individuals in
the Black community live their lives. It
emphasizes their ability to make a statement,
embrace fashion, and project their personalities
with confidence and style.
“ain’t we colorful folks?” by using this
rhetorical question, angelou playfully
underscores the theme of diversity and
individuality within the Black community. It
suggests that the vividness of Black culture and
the multitude of expressions, whether in
clothing or lifestyle, contribute to a rich and
colorful tapestry of experiences.
Now ain’t they bad?
an’ aint they black?
Angelou, in this final stanza, uses a
repetition to emphasize once again,
an’ ain’t they black?
conlcuding the poem, the
an’ ain’t they bad?
importance of the achievemnts of
an’ ain’t they bad?
an’ ain’t they black?
an’ ain’t they fine?
the black community and that their
“power” and proudness must not be
overlooked but must be embraced
and remembered.
THANK YOU!
By Jayacopo Year 12