Citizen: An American Lyric written by Claudia Rankine is a large work of poetry that explores the racism and injustice that many people of color have experienced in their lifetime through microaggression. Microaggression by Webster definition is “a comment or action that subtly and often unconsciously or unintentionally expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group (such as a racial minority)” (Merriam-Webster). These microaggressions are much harder to detect than straight forward acts of racism but Rankine does and excellent job showing us different situations in which they have occurred. Rankine also strategically uses the word you in this chapter to better connect the reader to the story. This first untitled chapter gives us a detailed look into what we can expect throughout the rest of the book.
In the first untitled chapter of this book, we notice right away in the opening sentence Rankine’s usage of second person point of view as she continually uses the word “you” to refer to the reader. “When you are alone and too tired even to turn on any of your devices, you let yourself linger in a past stacked among your pillows” (Rankine 5). This view now implies that us as the readers are a part of this story being told. Rankine has intelligently used this word in order to immerse the reader into the story and allow them to better picture and understand the details of what is happening in every situation. We as readers do this by putting ourselves into the shoes of whomever is experiencing these forms of discrimination. The usage of second person helps to open our eyes and break us out of the bubbles we live in as we see how other people in America are treated.
Throughout the chapter Rankine presents mini stories of which people, we don’t know who exactly as she has now made these stories ours, have experienced microaggression. We can see it at the start that we the readers are experiencing a situation in which a friend has called us by the name of her black housekeeper not even thinking twice about it, “You assumed you two were the only black people in her life” (Rankine 7). This expresses a form of microaggression as it is explained that this “friend” has unconsciously slipped up and when distracted has called the reader by some other person of colors name showing that she has not interacted with many people of color. And at the end of the chapter we are told that we are headed to visit a therapist that specializes in trauma counseling, “Get away from my house, what are you doing in my yard?… You have an appointment? She spits back. Then she pauses. Everything pauses. Oh, she says, followed by, oh, yes, that’s right. I am sorry” (Rankine 18). This quote shows us that this therapist has assumed the reader was there to cause trouble when in fact they were there for a scheduled appointment. We can assume that because us the readers have only spoken to them over the phone, they assumed we were of a different race.
While reading this chapter we can at a glance see that all of these experiences seemed to be simple misunderstanding or unconscious mistakes but as we look at the chapter as a whole, we see the bigger picture of these interactions and understand that America is full of them. Rankine has helped us to understand that all of these “unconscious” or “unintentional” actions are really just conscious thoughts that live in the heads of many Americans. No one is innocent from these conscious biases or thoughts even if you are not the one experiencing or provoking as we repeatedly hear and talk about racial discrimination, whether it be a discussion in a class or something you have directly heard or witnessed yourself, these biases live in everyone.
Overall, this first chapter of Citizen: An American Lyric was extremely thought provoking and helped open my eyes and immerse us into the experiences the author Claudia Rankine’s has told of racial discrimination through microaggression as well as help us get a better insight as to what is to come in the future of this book.
Discussion Questions
- How did Rankine’s usage of the word “you” make you as a reader feel? How did you interpret her usage of the word? How did it affect the way you read the chapter?
- There were a couple of visual pictures presented in this chapter, one on page 6 and one on the final page 19. How did you interpret these images? How did they affect your reading of the chapter?
Citation
Rankine, Claudia. Citizen: An American Lyric. Graywolf Press, 2014.
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Great job Dayna, your post definitely helped me to get a better understanding of the chapter. I was confused during the chapter similar to The Woman Warrior. Your post did a good job explaining what was going on in the book. Answering your first question about Rankine and her usage of the word “you” definitely helped me to feel more attached to the book because it made me stop and think of putting myself into the situation as if I have experienced it before. “You are reminded of a conversation you had recently,” (8). This is one of many quotes that I could stop and put myself into the reading to better understand what was going on and what the author meant to explain. The first time I read the chapter I didn’t understand what was going on at all. So, after I read the chapter again and tried to imagine myself in the story as if Rankine was talking to me directly the chapter became more clear to me.
Hi Dayna! Your blog post was informative to a handful of outside topics such as prejudice, discrimination, and judgment of others’ culture. In all the books we read it’s important to look at the background and put yourself in the shoes of our characters. It is likely that we will encounter people in the book that struggle with discrimination and your definition of microaggressions gives us a closer look into possibly dealing with prejudiced behavior. I also wanted to add the importance of the title by using “Citizen” as a singular noun. Radkine clearly uses the word “you” as you said and discussed in your questions. Making readers feel closer to the characters and further connecting it to the title gives an initial feeling of hostility and loneliness among these citizens. It shows us that we don’t have to be going through something to understand and feel the hurt that is put on someone else. “Sometimes the moon is missing and beyond the windows, the low, gray ceiling seems approachable. Its dark light dims in degrees depending on the density of clouds and you fall back into that which gets reconstructed as a metaphor.” (Citizen 1) Opening the book with this quote turns into the reader’s pathos. There is no location, but rather an overwhelming dark feeling. The moonlight could symbolize the center of the issue of America’s mission to land on the moon, or in book terms, the struggle of achieving equality. But in reality, this metaphor is not positive, it is a cry for help. Further connecting my thoughts with yours I saw a self vs world comparison. If people were educated and aware of the discrimination others face, would there be fewer slip-ups? Your example allows us to put ourselves in the shoes of the friend being associated with the black housekeeper and sympathize with that situation. We can think about it this way, not everyone defines prejudiced behavior the same way. Some may be offended by different comments or slurs from the out-group bias while others can be unbothered by these comments. Intentional or not it’s disappointing that some don’t see the weight of these words. In the big picture of it these smaller situations aid a bigger issue in the world. As readers, we can break apart these smaller scenarios and make connections to see how and why Radkine wants us to see the fogginess between downright prejudiced behavior and just not knowing right from wrong. But how can we understand what is deemed offensive? Or how can we avoid making these unnoticed mistakes to become more aware?
Rankine, Claudia. Citizen: An American Lyric. Graywolf Press, 2014.
Hi Dayna, I really love what you wrote and I agree completely with the implementation of the second-person point of view. This was striking to me when I was reading because not many books are written from this perspective and I agree that Rankine does this to make the reader empathize with her personal experiences and those of people of certain groups. By putting this in the second-person, the reader is forced to endure what Rankine places on them, showing the ways that microaggressions are so commonly employed. I think an effective quotation to show the point of view, as well as the theme of microaggressions is, “You assume she thinks she is thanking you for letting her cheat and feels better from cheating from an almost white person” (Rankine 5). This exemplifies how Rankine places the reader in the uncomfortable position of her own life, especially after being struck by a backhanded comment from a white girl in her class. Though not every person who reads her book can relate to what she goes through, by using this perspective she aims to make it more understandable and accessible.
Hi Dayna, you did a great job summarizing this chapter and I agree that the authors use of the word “you” has a strong meaning including us as the reader into understanding the story. In Citizen, Rankine uses the word “you” in a way that creates a sense of intimacy and directness with the reader. By addressing the reader directly, she invites them to become an active participant in the narrative and encourages them to empathize with the experiences of the people she describes. The use of “you” can also create a sense of discomfort or unease in the reader, as they may feel implicated in the acts of racism and microaggressions that Rankine describes. This discomfort can be intentional, as Rankine seeks to challenge the reader’s assumptions and push them to confront the realities of racism in their own lives. Overall, the use of “you” in Citizen is a powerful rhetorical device that helps to create a sense of immediacy and urgency in the reader. It encourages them to engage with the difficult subject matter and to reflect on their own role in perpetuating or challenging systemic racism. In the text it states, “You are in the dark, in the car, watching the black-tarred street being swallowed by speed; he tells you his dean is making him hire a person of color when there are so many great writers out there.”(Rankine 18). In this quote, Rankine uses “you” to address the reader directly and to create a sense of intimacy between them and the narrator. The use of “you” also invites the reader to empathize with the experiences of the narrator and to confront the realities of racism in their own lives.
Hi Dayna! I thought your blog post was very insightful, thought proving, and validating. The point of view the author uses as you said “ implies that we as the readers are a part of this story being told”, is so fascinating and interesting to me. The usage of the word “you” makes you as a reader feel involved and truthfully interested to see where the story will go. I interpreted the usage of the word “you” in many ways. I think the word represents us the reader-each individual, the author, and groups of people. To some extent, I wholeheartedly relate and see myself as the “you”, and then other times I know I will never be able to understand the “you” she describes. The first time the word “you” was used I was surprised to read something that I felt so connected to. “When you are alone and too tired even to turn on any of your devices, you let yourself linger in a past stacked among your pillows”(Rankine,5). But the second time I read “you” I began to wonder who is the “you” she is talking about. “You never really speak except for the time she makes her request and later when she tells you you smell good and have features more like a white person.”(Rankine,5). The repetitive use of “you” in different contexts affected the way I read the chapter, by leaving me (individually) confused if the “you” she is talking about is meant to be me? As of right now, I feel the “you” the author is addressing is the bigger picture of it all and us all in society, through systemic racism, prejudice, racism, and microaggressions and how in our society it is normal to unconsciously be unaware of them.
Hi Dayna, I really enjoyed your blog post and how you walked us through the chapter. You did a very good job at capturing the details involved and describing the situation that takes place in the story. I found your first question very interesting as it really made me think about how I felt while I was reading. I felt that I was experiencing racism through the eyes of another, and it truly made me feel for the person we are following. In the novel, Citizen, by Claudia Rankine, a stranger says, “his dean is making him hire a person of color when there are so many great writers out there.” (10). This is just an example of microaggression that is expressed throughout the chapter and shows that although racism may not be direct of obvious, it is still present. The chapter did a great job at putting us in that position in order to experience the microaggression involved.
Hi Dayna, I thought you had a great blog post! When reading your second question, I went back to look at the visuals that Rankine gave us. On page six, there is what appears to be a nice neighborhood and a street called “Jim Crow.” I thought this visual perfectly described the way many victims of microaggressions might see them. So often, many people use these microaggressions unknowingly or unintentionally. Although the person might not mean to be hurtful, they still do or say something hateful and biased to another undeserving individual. When I looked at the visual, that is precisely how I thought it came across. You see a lovely, peaceful neighborhood, likely not trying to be offensive, but ultimately it is. Unfortunately, many of the victims of these microaggressions are often stunned and unsure of what to say. Rankine says, “like lighting they strike you across the larynx.” (Rankine 7). People become too stunned even to speak, which is exactly how I interpreted the visual. It affects the reading of the chapter because it makes the reader feel and understand exactly how someone who is a victim of a microaggression might feel.
I have never heard of the term, “micro aggression” and find it to be an interesting concept. I didn’t know there was a term that describes these minuscule actions that can be un intentional even. This made me realize that I have participated in micro aggression myself. The usage of second person perspective is indeed effective as it puts the reader in the shoes of the situation at hand. The quote you included about the therapist being frightened by a black person when they were actually their client there for an appointment says alot about stigmas that are engraved within our psyche. The second person is also utilized throughout a quote that stood out to me on page 5 that reads,
“You are twelve attending Sts. Philip and James School on White Plains Road and the girl sitting in the seat behind you asks you to lean to the right during exams so she can copy what you have written. … she tells you you smell good and have features more like a white person” (5).
This quote came off offensively and indeed racist even though it is so subtle, which is the basis of microaggression. I do agree that this chapter was very thought provoking and brought the light that these unintentional mistakes reflect the disguised mindset that many Americans have due to our morals and way of life historically.
Hey Dayna! I love your perspective on this book so far and how you perceived the authors language! I found it very interesting how you took her repetition of the word “you” as a personalized approach rather than a creepy approach as we once spoke about in class. I also believe I was experiencing a first hand account of racism through the text and the authors language including me. The constant repetition of “you” makes me wonder and emphasize this importance of the person who is “you.” The quote “You are in the dark, in the car, watching the black-tarred street being swallowed by speed; he tells you..”(Rankine 18) really added to the meaning of the story for me and puzzled my understanding of the word you and the effect and context it will play in the rest of this story.
Dear Dayna,
I agree that the author uses the word “you” to make the reader feel more close to the narrator. This is an important factor because you feel anything the narrator goes through more personally. The word “you” and the title Citizen give the feeling of emptiness and being different. This comes from everything being singular and not plural. You are by yourself. “its dark light dims in degrees depending on the density of clouds and you fall back into that which gets reconstructed as a metaphor.” (Citizen 1) This quote easily opens the reader to a more pathos/ emotional point of view on the book. This opens pathos because it brings about this dark feeling which I’m sure most people have felt in their life. These are two reasons we feel close to the narrator.
I completely agree with your analysis of this section. As you said, the extended use of “you”, allows us as the reader to be involved in all of her experiences. It changes the narrative of us observing her tragic story to having us, the readers, being involved as well. As a white male, I am being put into the narrative of a completely different perspective that I and many others may not have experienced. It allows the readers to have a greater connection to this story. I think it can also help a reader relate their personal experiences to something similar they may have experienced. A moment I thought was shocking especially with the usage of “you” was “By this she means you mostly interact as friends with mutual interest and, for the most part, compatible personalities; however, sometimes your historical selves, her white self and your black self, or your white self and her black self, arrive with the full force of your American positioning” (pg. 14). Despite having all sorts of personal and impactful similarities someone might have with someone else, the topic of race is always still a divider. It was a shock to see this woman who our author was friends with say something so extreme and completely shatter their pre-established friendship ruining any bonds and similarities they had. I think you had a great analysis of this part!
Great blog post Danya, I really like how you simplified the chapter in Citizen which is a book I found a little confusing to understand what the writer was trying to say. I really liked your paragraph on microaggression and your quote from Rankine 7, where you see a great example of what microaggression is. The photos that are on the pages also show a form of microaggression. Page 6 shows an action that expresses a prejudice against African American’s by naming the road “Jim Crow Road”. Jim Crow laws is obviously something that used back in the day as a cruel form of racism and to name a road after it many years later, it can be something that was unintentionally hurtful and was prejudice towards African American families. This photo affects how I viewed the rest of the reading and made me notice some micro aggressive lines in the book such as “Do you feel hurt because it’s the ‘all black people are the same’ moment” (Rankine 7). Although the reading was a little confusing, I was able to notice the microaggression expressed that you discuss in your blog.
Hi Dayna! I liked how your post explains Rankine’s motive for using the word “you” to refer to the reader in 2nd person. I agree that she does this to open the reader’s eyes and helps to put themselves in the shoes of one that faces this type of prejudice and microaggression. “He tells you his dean is making him hire a person of color when there are so many great writers out there (pg.10)”. I pulled this quote specifically because it represents the bias and prejudice that live in many peoples heads.
Hello Dayna. Your blog post really helped me understand and look at this chapter in a different way then when I read it on my own. I agree on that the author uses the word “you” to make the reader feel more close to the narrator. Also the way you also explained and told the definitions of some of the words in this chapter is really what helped the most. I had no clue what “Microaggression” was until reading this and looking it up after and seeing it being correct. The photos that are on the pages also show a form of micro-aggression. This quote really stood out to me, “Do you feel hurt because it’s the ‘all black people are the same’ moment” (Rankine 7). From reading this quote I pulled it from the book because it shows that Microaggression definition that you explain in your blog and I believe it goes very well together.