Maya Angelou

America

America - meaning Summary

America's Unkept Promise

The poem confronts America’s failure to live up to its promises, portraying wealth and justice as unmined and undefined. It links abundance to persistent hunger and ties southern racism to mortality. Ariel declarations and myths are exposed as empty, and the speaker urges a reckoning: to "discover this country," acknowledge its crimes, erect memorials, and reject comforting legends. The tone is accusatory and insistently patriotic in demanding truth and repair.

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The gold of her promise has never been mined Her borders of justice not clearly defined Her crops of abundance the fruit and the grain Have not fed the hungry nor eased that deep pain Her proud declarations are leaves on the wind Her southern exposure black death did befriend Discover this country dead centuries cry Erect noble tablets where none can decry “She kills her bright future and rapes for a sou Then entraps her children with legends untrue” I beg you Discover this country.

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