Throughout the beginning half of this section, (p.56-60 ) of this section of Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine, I noticed an emphasis on how individualism can be utilized in coping with micro aggression. According to the Oxford Dictionary, Individualism is defined as, “ the habit or principle of being independent and self-reliant.” Rankine was broad and general in her wording, so that the reader can apply these phrases in cases of micro aggression or in general life scenarios in regards to dealing with people. Rankine is pushing the idea that we are all individuals with our own visions and aspirations in life, a quote from page 57 reads, “The destination is illusory. You raise your lids. No one else is seeking.” The way in which I interpreted this is that no one else is paying any mind to your final destination, that is simply between yourself and obstacles within the universe. When we are focused on our own path, others actions should not have a strong impact on our well being. On page 60, Rankine writes, ”If you let in the excess emotion you will recall the Atlantic Ocean breaking on our heads.” This indicates that letting outside words and opinions of others (possibly micro aggression) ignite excessive emotions within you, that it will be damaging. I interpreted this section of literature as emphasizing the importance of understanding that no one is thinking about your insecurities and issues except for yourself, and that our thoughts are our own demons at times. If we internalize others’ actions, it will be very difficult to achieve happiness. The security of self in absence of others’ energy is necessary so that when microaggression occurs, one is able to cope with it and move onward without an emotional setback. Another outlook that Rankine shared was how one’s relationship with the past, “The past is a life sentence, a blunt instrument aimed at tomorrow (59).” Claiming the past is significant and a roadmap for the future of your life. This is a different take to this concept as we often hear people say let go of the past it is over and done with. Rankine is saying to use the past as a road map for your future. This section contained a lot of insightful phrases that I read as advice or a guide to emotionally get through microaggression as well as life in general.
A literary strategy that occurs throughout the piece is contradictory statements. I believe Rankine incorporated opposite ideas within singular sentences in attempts to have the reader form their own opinion on the specific situation. For example, when describing a scenario that takes place in the gym, page 65 read, “ you do go to the gym and run in place, an entire hour running, just you and your body running off each undesired desired encounter.” The use of the words “undesired ” and”desired ” are placed next to each other which initially confused me and being completely honest still does confuse me. I think this technique brings attention to contradictory thoughts we have in our minds, sometimes we want things and later regret actions taken due to those desires. When referring to cases of microaggression, Rankine says, “Each time it begins in the same way, it doesn’t begin the same way, each time it begins it’s the same. (89)” This quote led me to believe that different perspectives are being displayed in regards to incidences of microaggression. Some believe that every time it begins the same but others may believe that each case is unique and starts off differently. On page 84 a scenario of highschool boys getting into a physical altercation over what I assume is race due to the context of the book. The following page, (85) opens with, “Boys will be boys being boys feeling their capacity heaving butting heads righting their wrongs in the violence…..” This relates to the idea of individualism as a horrific incident including violence and fist punching but Rankine takes the casual approach when reflecting on the situation by saying boys will be boys. This can apply to people. people will be people, harse and many times unforgiving but we shall move forward with confidence in our own strong being.
This section of literature was intense and a lot to digest in my opinion in regards to navigating through complex worded sentences that contradict each other at times. I found Rankines writing style interesting in that this section took a more of an advisory approach compared to the rest of the reading so far. Advice was given through complex phrases that were written for interpretation while educating the reader about microaggression as well. This approach brought awareness to microaggression while shedding light on the significance of being secure as an individual rather than giving outside elements the power to alter our well being.
Citations
Rankine, Claudia. Citizen: An American Lyric. Graywolf Press, 2014.
Oxford Learner’s dictionaries:
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/
Discussion Questions:
- Did you interpret the section discussed as advise regarding the significance of individualism as well?
- How do you understand the Rankines contradictory words being places next to each other within sentences?
Skip to content
Hi Cassidy!
Including the word individualism and its definition sets the tone for the chapter and what message Radkine wants to put out. “But to be interrupted, to be spoken over, to be told to shush because the listener’s comfort is paramount to another’s words, to be devalued, erased, discounted because of the way words live in our ears, because of assumptions derived from faces, bodies, etc. – these are events that precede a fray, or a thrashing, or a self-correcting of the spirit. These are experiences that take their toll” (Rankine, p. 57). This quote along with the Rankine explores the impact of individualism on relationships between black people. She describes how black individuals often feel pressure to mold into certain stereotypes and expectations within their own community, and how this can create a sense of division and competition. She makes a point that these divisions are often reminded by the dominant culture, which puts marginalized groups against each other. this made me connect back to your point of individualism. In truth, although everybody seems to be separated by groups in reality it’s just everyone trying to survive on their own. The quotes that you chose were powerful and invoked emotion that help me better understand that because of all of the micro-aggressions going on you have to protect yourself and don’t let the weight of the world get to you.
In your second paragraph, I liked how you acknowledge that you were confused because I was too. It seems like Radkines Main purpose for using so much emotion is to try and reach her readers and speak in a way that we understand. Saying Phrases like “Boys will be Boys” (page 84) in our generation we can understand phrases like that a lot better rather than a concept as confusing and unfair as microaggression. this ties into your first discussion question that I wanted to answer. In my opinion, I feel like the entire book is advice leaning towards microaggression in the way that people are treated. Radkine is always trying to reach her readers in any way that is possible. She does this for a reason and I believe that reason is to educate, especially younger but older people who read her books as well. to reduce this break in our world.
Good analyses here, Deanna. Moving forward, make sure to carefully proofread your comments (there are several spelling and capitalization errors) and review proper MLA-style in-text citations.
Score: 3 out of 5
Very well-done blog post Cassidy, I found your interpretations of the quotes from the reading interesting. The way you interpreted this quote from page 57 was close to how I interpreted it. “The destination is illusory. You raise your lids. No one else is seeking.” You are the only person whose opinion matters when overcoming personal obstacles and goals. This quote really emphasized this message. Though I do agree with your interpretation of this quote, I interpreted the use of desired and undesired next to each other in an alternative way. “Yes, and you do go to the gym and run in place, an entire hour running, just you and your body running off each undesired desired encounter.” I personally thought this quote was referring to how undesired encounters can drive you to put yourself in more desired encounters. Or in other words, the undesired negative encounters and experiences can drive you to better yourself eventually. The reader wants to be running, though running for an hour is difficult and hard on your body. As shown in this quote from page 65 “You lean against the sink, a glass of red wine in your hand and then another, thinking in the morning you will go to the gym having slept and slept beyond the residuals of all yesterdays.” The speaker in this quote is reflecting on the fact that they have been meaning to go to the gym, but they have just been sleeping instead. This reflection is an undesired encounter for the speaker, but then they go running the next day as a desired encounter.
Interesting observations, Alex! I wonder how you interpret these desired/undesired encounters in relation to the broader questions about racism and discrimination addressed throughout the book.
Moving forward, make sure to review MLA-style citations.
Score: 4 out of 5
Hi Cassidy! I really enjoyed your interpretation of this section. I agree that Rankine provides some level of advice while also anecdotally discussing microaggressions. Lines such as “in the darkened moment a body given blue light, a flashlight, enters with levity, with or without assumptions, doubts, with desire, the beating heart, disappointment, with desires— Stand where you are” (56) give the reader guidance on what to do in these situations. However, I feel that the advice is meant to be confusing and contradictory, because a few pages later, Rankine asks “why are you standing?” (58). My personal interpretation of this is that Rankine is imitating the conflicting advice that people of color receive throughout their lives in order to help them combat racism and microaggressions. Some will say to proudly stand up for one’s self and others will say to stay quiet and unassuming, which I have no doubt is confusing and leaves one at a loss for what to actually do. I believe that Rankine is attempting to make the reader feel this same confusion in order to make a point about the complexity of navigating these issues.
Fantastic analysis, Kara! Your observations about the advice being contradictory are super sharp. You also make a compelling point that this contradictory advice illustrates the difficulty and “complexity” of successfully navigating through a racist society.
Score: 5 out of 5
Hi Cassidy! This is a great blog post and I agree with you that this chapter was quite a lot to delve into. The way Rankine writes these chapters shows that she’s fighting many demons internally, but the source of these demons are actually from the world around her. The book states, “Everyone understood you to be suffering, and still everyone thought you thought you were the sun, never mind our unlikeness” (71.) This shows that the world is recognizing her suffering, but they are not going to help with it or do anything to change the circumstances. Everyone believing you to be the sun means that they could not understand how the suffering was impacting you, and people still view you as someone with importance and power (like the sun) because you’re able to garner attention for these things. Negative attention, or positive attention, it depends on who is being spoken to. But oftentimes when Black people raise their voices about the racism they endure, they are silenced, and told that their problems are universal and not special. Repetitions of situations like this are why Rankine must feel so helpless in her search for true understanding. When she has the strength to ask or talk of it, the world around her is unwilling to listen.
Fantastic close reading here, Natalie! You do a great job interpreting the image of the sun. This insight is also very powerful:
“When she has the strength to ask or talk of it, the world around her is unwilling to listen.”
Score: 5 out of 5
Hey Cassidy,
I loved your interpretation of how Rankine uses her words to portray her feelings of individualism. I love your discussion question regarding the constant word contradictions Rankine makes throughout the book. I find that Rankine most likely uses these words to form a paradox that forced the reader to think deeper about the reality of her words. For instance “certainly nostalgia and being without nostalgia relieve the past”(64). By contradicting nostalgia in this line the reader is forced to interpret further how the author feels about relieving the past. Due to the word placement I myself am confused about how Rankine perceives her own state of mind and nostalgia. Earlier in the chapter we find Rankine say “you can’t put the past behind you; it’s buried in you” (63). By contradicting that the past never goes away then contradicting you can relieve it through nostalgia confused me. I’m not sure why Rankine makes her point so unclear but it forces me to think further about how she must feel to have written all these contradictory feelings. I feel that even Rankine might be confused about how she should feel which is a unique way for Rankine to write about micro aggressions and individualism which are hugely growing topics of discussion in todays society.
Good observations here, Hunter, about Rankine’s paradoxes and contradictions. You’ve also done a great job providing textual evidence to support your points. Moving forward, keep in mind that our goal, as readers, is not to try and decipher what the author intended. Instead, we’re focusing on the impact that their language has on us as readers.
Score: 5 out of 5