Throughout all of Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine we see Rankine struggle with identity. In the last section, we see her gain more of a sense of self. Rankine’s sense of self involves everything she is including her hardships, identity, and personality. There are a few places we see Rankine talk about these.
In the last chapter, Rankine starts by talking about this ache. “Some years there exists a wanting to escape—- you, floating above your certain ache—– still the ache coexists.”( Rankine 139) Rankine talks about this ache that people live with. This ache that no matter what will always be with you. The wording of “you, floating above your certain ache”(Rankine 139) makes abundantly clear that not only does everyone have an ache but that the ache is beneath you. The use of the word you in this quote also makes this ache more personal. Her goal was to have her readers think of the ache that coexists with themselves and understand the feeling she is talking about. Rankine wants people to understand that this ache is a part of you when she says that the ache coexists. Rankine does a very good job connecting the sense of self with racism in this last chapter. Rankine shows how the sense of self is understanding that you are different and accepting it on page 148. “you laugh and ask what else her privilege gets her? Oh, my perfect life, she answers.”(Rankine 148) This quote shows how it is understood that there is a difference and that this difference is the ache but the ache is beneath you and not worth the worry because it makes you who you are.
In the section labeled July 13, 2013, the ache that Rankine talks about is shown during the event of Trayvon Martins’s killer being acquitted. “The outside blistered the inside of you, words outmaneuvered years.”(Rankine 156) Rankine talks about how the ache is this blistering that is happening inside of you. She says how words are outmaneuvering the years and this means the words people are saying are killing you faster than the years that go by. This is important because when talking about a sense of self you think of finding inner peace and loving who you are but this chapter has proved many times that sense of self is being okay with the ache and understanding that you are better than it. In this chapter, we see one man making racist remarks while listening to the broadcast of Trayvon Martins’s killer being acquitted. The friend jumps out of the car to say something to this man but is immediately ushered back to the car because the protagonist knows that this situation can cause serious harm to themselves. This once again shows the ache always has a place in someone’s head. This ache causes the protagonist to try and isolate themselves from their feelings so they don’t cause any scenes or harm.
In my opinion, this section had hard and easy spots to read. Rankine clearly stated about this ache but made us dig through short broken-up sentences to see the connection of ones race being their ache. I love Rankine’s writing style although it is different and sometimes difficult it holds raw emotion and relatable wording. The approach of using raw emotion and relatable wording brought more of an impact on this ache and how people deal with it.
Citations:
Rankine, Claudia. Citizen: An American Lyric. Graywolf Press, 2014.
Discussion Questions:
Looking back at the whole book do you see this ache come up intentionally?
Did the word “you” make this ache have a greater impact on you? If so can you relate to everything Rankine was saying?
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Hi Trista, you did a great job focusing on one topic in this chapter and really getting into great detail about it. By focusing on this topic, it really draws an outsides view on this in and makes them want to learn so much more and continue reading it. When reading your blog post, it really got me interesting when you would bring up the “ache” that would constantly be brought up. Rankine uses the term “ache” is so many ways that can have a different meaning but in some way they all have something in common which makes it more interesting. But when the book continues, there is a poem which has a lot of little hints on what is going on in this book. ” Who shouted, you? You shouted you, you the murmur in the air, you sometimes sounding like you, you sometimes saying you, go nowhere, be no one but you first- Nobody notices, only you’ve known,” (145). In this quote, the poem makes it very confusing to know what the author is really saying. In this line, it makes the readers assume that someone is just talking to themselves in a certain situation that could be happening inside thier head.
Hi Trista, I think you wrote a very thoughtful and insightful blog post! I really loved the way that you interpreted the struggle with identity throughout this section of the book. I think that identity and searching within is a common theme throughout the entire book and I really liked seeing the way that you interpreted it. I also loved that you brought up the section where Trayvon Martin’s killer was acquitted. I thought that this section held a lot of significance. A particular sentence from this section that drew my attention was “yes and this is how you are a citizen: Come on. Let it go. Move on” (Rankine 151). There are a few different parts to this sentence that I felt held significance. For one, it drew my attention since it holds a portion of the title of the book “Citizen”. I also interpreted this quote as saying that since you are a citizen you have to just accept the things that happen in this country. You are supposed to just move on and let things go even when injustices are occurring, such as in this section when a racist act resulting in the death of Trayvon Martin is even further perpetuated in racism when his killer is found not guilty.
Hi Trista! I truly enjoyed reading your blog post. As it was thought-provoking it was also extremely insightful. Your interpretations of the book, really helped me find closure in Rankines’ work. The “ache” you talk about so descriptively shined a new light on how I originally interpreted it. Since Rankine uses the word “ache” not only in so many different forms but in different contexts it allows the reader to create different meanings from each story. What was interesting about her usage of “ache” and your blog post is “ in some way they all have something in common which makes it more interesting.” To answer the first part of the second question you posed, yes, there was a greater impact of the word “you” tied with “ache”. The meaning I took away from the ache was systemic racism and that it’s not always Rankines’ job or the people in Rankines’ stories to stand up for what society continues to make normal. That being microaggression, this can be seen in the quote, “The subject of so many films is the protection of the victim, and I think, I don’t give a damn about those things. It’s not the job of films to nurse people. With what’s happening in the chemistry of love, I don’t want to be a nurse or a doctor, I just want to be an observer” (Rankine 126). Following the quote Rankine goes on to say “As a child, Claire Denis wished to be a nurse; she is no longer a child. Years have passed and so soon we love this world, so soon we are willing to coexist with dust in our eyes” (Rankine 126). This represents the “you” and the “ache” and then we society represents.
Hey Trista! This analysis is amazing, I especially love the line, “. . . sense of self is being okay with the ache and understanding that you are better than it.” In regards to the discussion question about the ‘ache’ that comes up throughout the book, I do believe it’s intentional. This chapter touches upon these aches constantly, and I think the most explicit meaning behind them is shown in the lines, “Years have passed and so soon we love this world, so soon we are willing to coexist with dust in our eyes” (Rankine 155.) When Black people constantly endure racism in America, they must bury their anger and discontentment with the systems in place because their voices do not affect the figures in power who can make change. This means that Black Americans are forced to exist with systems in place which hold them back, and they have to go through normalized instances of racism and microaggressions in everyday life because this behavior is not properly punished in society. This is the ache which is spoken about throughout this chapter; the pain of carrying racist experiences and memories, and never being able to see true systemic justice.
Hi Trista, I totally agree with you that Rankines way of writing is both easy and hard to read. Your post made the hard parts more understandable in the way that you explained the “ache” that Rankine was describing throughout the chapter. “You ache for the rest of life” (Rankine 143). This line really explained the fact that some people live with an ache their entire life and there’s nothing that they can do to control that. For your second question, the word “you” that Rankine used definitely made me feel the “ache” more because it helped me think of it from a first person perspective, not just as a reader. Incorporating the word “you” makes me think about myself in the book and all the things that were talked about felt like they happened to me. Personally, I don’t think that I can relate to anything that Rankine talked about mainly because I don’t think that I’ve been a victim like some of the people that were talked about in the book.
Hi Trista, I find your review neatly organizes the ideas spread throughout the book and finalizes one of the principal strategies Rankine uses to evoke reaction, narration as it comes to an end. One of the ideas you discussed questions how readers may have predicted the ache and pains in the interactions discussed and how this is attributed to the word you. In this, there is a build up to this ache as even in the beginning, the narration’s purpose assumes reaction from the readers, an emotional response. Thus, “you” truly brings an empathetic reaction where one may vividly imagine how “you slow all existence down with your call” must feel (144). “You” almost takes character of what “they” would specifically point as a cry for help rather than just a regular “you”. It accentuates, the depiction of a character but is an evident struggle in this except. Furthermore, this helps dramatize the occurrence of an outer-body experience of a higher self within yourself and may be perceived in different ways individually. Possibly metaphorically, “you” is more than referring to someone else here and brings together a true pain as “you” is grievance, higher self, the outside and even could be death so “you” altogether is something for every person to conceptualize for themselves.
Hi Trista, you did a great job analyzing Rankine’s work. In this paragraph, you did a great job introducing the theme of identity in Claudia Rankine’s Citizen. You did an amazing job highlighting how the protagonist struggles with their sense of self throughout the book and how the last section shows a greater understanding and acceptance of who they are. This allowed me to really think about the “ache” that coexists within individuals, which Rankine explores throughout the book. The theme of an “ache” that coexists within individuals is particularly impactful since it highlights the pervasive and enduring effects of racism on people’s lives. The ache is something that people live with every day, and it is a constant reminder of their difference and the discrimination they face. However, Rankine’s message is ultimately one of acceptance and self-love. By acknowledging and accepting the ache, individuals can find a greater sense of self and understand that their difference is a part of who they are. “What to do with this knowledge? This knowledge that you’re not white. This knowledge that the white you carry, you carry in a different way.” (Rankine, 148) This quote acknowledges the reality of difference and the ache that comes with it, but also encourages individuals to embrace their unique identity and find strength in it.
Hi Trista, I love what you wrote and agree about the identity theme. I also picked up on the experiences of Black Americans and the ways in which their identities are shaped and limited by systemic racism. One of the themes that emerge in this section is the idea of internalized racism. Rankine writes, “It’s possible that desire for black bodies is really a twisted love of self, of mirror” (Rankine 136). Here, she suggests that the fetishization of Black bodies by white people is not just a product of racism, but also a manifestation of the white desire for Blackness as a symbol of their own identity. This desire is linked to the idea of erasing or devaluing Black identity, which can lead to a sense of self-hatred among Black people themselves. Rankine also explores the intersection of race and gender, particularly in the experiences of Black women. She writes, “because white men can’t police their imagination black men are dying” (p. 138). This quote speaks to the idea that Black women are often objectified and sexualized in ways that further marginalize them. Throughout this section, Rankine highlights the ways in which racism operates on a systemic level, but also how individual attitudes and behaviors perpetuate it. She writes, “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” (p. 146). This quote captures the ways in which racism is continued in everyday interactions, such as the reluctance to hire a person of color even when they are just as qualified. Rankine’s use of quotations and imagery paints a picture of the experiences of Black Americans and the challenges they face in a society that often marginalizes them.
Hi trista!
Throughout your blog post I thought the first quote you chose captured the relationship we have as pain as humans. The phrase “you, floating above your certain ache” implies a sense of detachment from the pain. It’s as if the speaker is observing themselves from a distance, but still witnessing their own suffering. I felt this in a way because we all feel and experience pain but it comes with a different perspective when we watch ourselves experience that pain. Sometimes we have a strong desire to escape our pain or discomfort, but even as we try to distance ourselves from it, the pain continues to exist alongside us. The second part of the quote reminds us that the pain is still very much present. The word “coexists” implies that the ache is associated with who we are and how we take that pain. It’s hard to overcome something that is meant to be felt.
Following the scene of Trayvon’s murder, which you mentioned. Answering your first discussion question, the “certain ache” in the quote could be seen as a metaphor for the deep sense of pain and injustice that many people of color experience in the face of racism. I think this quote served a lot more than just in this situation with Trayvon. The message our author is trying to get out there are the injustice people of color face in all. And still after something this tragic happens there is no change.
Going with your topic on racism. A quote from the chapter resonated with this. “And where is the safest place when that place must be someplace other than in the body?” (Rankine 136) This quote reflects on the trauma and violence that black people experience in their bodies, and the sense of disconnection that can result from this. The quote suggests that safety for black people may not be found within their own bodies, Instead, safety may have to be sought in some other place or community that can offer that protection and support.
Hi Trista! Great job on your blog post. I agree with your analyzation of Rankine’s use of the word “ache” in chapter 7. I see this “ache” represented many times throughout the book. In the scenarios given, it symbolizes the emotional suffering of one who is a target for racism on a day to day basis. In a way this suffering and pain becomes manifested into part of one’s identity. “The signing ceases; the headaches remain (p. 62)”. This quote from the forth chapter shows this “ache” being a main symbol throughout the book. The word “you” being more repetitive in the last chapter definitely had a greater impact on me. It amplifies to me personally that I can’t say I can resonate with this “ache” as I think throughout the story it symbolizes one living with the pain caused by systematic racism. The main theme I took away of this persistent “ache” is the impacts racism has on one’s identity and sense of self.
Hi Trista! I thought you had a great blog post and did a great job discussing the “ache” that Rankine keeps referring to. To answer your second question, Rankine’s use of “you” does create a more significant impact on the reader when talking about the “ache.” Rankine says, “You, floating above your certain ache- still the ache coexists. Call that the immanent you- you are you even before you grow into the understanding you are not anyone, worthless, not worth you” (Rankine 139). Rankine has continuously used “you” to connect her writing with the readers better. When the reader reads this, it seems as if the author is speaking specifically to them, which then the reader may take this more personally or have stronger feelings about what the author is writing. Although I could not relate to everything that Rankine discussed, her use of the word “you” still made it feel like she spoke directly to me and gave me a more personal feeling.
Hey Trista! I really thought this blog post was very insightful. At first I felt like after reading Rakine’s book that we were supposed to take the words she said at surface level, then after reading your post, there seems to be more beyond the words. I really iked how you linked “The outside blistered the inside of you, words outmaneuvered years.”(Rankine 156)” to the idea that “words people are saying are killing you faster than the years that go by”, that phrase just seemed so powerful to read, as in it really packed a punch. I want to link that to the area where it look like the speaker and someone was having a conversation, where he states “Tell me a story…” (Rakine 159), then the speaker tells him a story of something that happened in a parking lot before a game/match, then he asked, “Did you win?” and the speaker responded with, “It wasn’t a match,….It was a lesson” (Rankine 159) which expresses the idea that there was more beyond the story, more beyond the match and more beyond the words He asked for a story, the speaker told him a story, and what he thought was the main point, was entirely different from what it really is.
Hi Trista, I really enjoyed your blog post and particularly like how you explained not only the ending of the book but when into detail about the ache. It really shows that it is truly always there even if it is harder to see. Rankine really did an amazing job at bringing awareness to microaggressions throughout the entire book while wrapping it all up with a great ending that truly makes the reader think especially by the word use of “you”. The word use of “you” did have a greater impact on me as it helped me experience what microaggressions may feel like although I did not personally experience them myself. Rankine stated, “You smile dumbly at the world because you are still feeling if only the feeling could be known and this brings on the moment you recognize as desire.” (153). Although I did not personally experience any of the microaggressions, the use of the word “you” really made me think about the impact microaggressions have on others.
Hi Trista! I enjoyed your blog post, the quotes you incorporated resonated with me. I agree that the “ache” you focused on throughout your blog post is a reoccurring ideal that finally comes to the surface toward the end of the reading. The first quote you spoke about involves this idea of carrying an ache throughout life of always wanting more. This concept is very relatable and I agree that Rankines writing style and word choice intensifies the intimacy between this section of the writing and the reader. In my own writing, I find myself using the word “you” as I feel it forces the reader to dial into what is being stated as they are being addressed directly. The word “you” forces the reader to think about themselves in relation to the book which is an effective way to have a lasting impact on an audience. The emphasis on sense of self is also shown through the statement, “ The worst injury is feeling you don’t belong so much to you-” (Rankine 117). This quote reveals the fatality of insecurity and the feeling of misalignment or not belonging. The sensation of misalignment can occur within a group as well as within oneself in regards to self respect and recognition of one’s greatness. Additionally, this quote brings light to the impact that racism and micro aggressions have on peoples’ well-being and their own perspective of their place in the world. The stylization of this book length poem did indeed emphasize both the relevance of microaggression as well as the importance of self- certainty when put up against the uncertainties of being a member of society.
Fantastic evidence and analysis here, Cassidy! I love your ideas about “misalignment”–such a powerful phrase.
Score: 5 out of 5
Hey Trista I think your take on this section of the book was very interesting! As you stated in your post you believe she overcame her self doubt and learned to accept it and embrace it but in my opinion i still see that internal fight and struggle throughout the course of the text. The fact that she is still mentioning and holding onto this “ache” shows that it will have a lasting impact on her because she is very hurt by these occurances. Also her word choice of ache really stands out because it emphasizes the pain. For example, when you say i have a headache versus i have an aching headache the conotary is way more impactful adding the word ache to it. Rankine also states “You, floating above your certain ache- still the ache coexists. Call that the immanent you- you are you even before you grow into the understanding you are not anyone, worthless, not worth you” (Rankine 139). This quote really stuck out to me because it shows she is hopeless at this point and kind of letting that ache consumer her and overcome her whole lifestyle. At this point she is kind of defeated and she is excepting the fact and just trying to move on from it with whatever dignity she has left.
Hi Trista, I thought your blog post was really insightful and did a good job of explaining the rest of the book Citizen and American Lyric by Claudia Rankine. I liked your examples you brought up that helps contribute to the main topic of the book with Rankine’s struggle with identity. A quote I really thought was powerful that fits in with your examples of Rankine’s identity struggle when she says “And still a world begins its furious erasure– Who do you think you are, saying I to me? You nothing. You nobody. You” (Rankine 142). Rankine changes pronouns from I to you again and I put myself in the shoes of the reader when she says you. I believe this chapter and the whole book provides a great example of people who struggle with who they are and how they handle that problem and for the ending of the book to end in the way It did was important and really good because it explained how people like Rankine find acceptance in who they are.
Good job with this comment, Paul! You’ve identified a great quote to build on Cassidy’s analysis. In the future, just make sure to carefully proofread for mistakes in spelling, capitalization, and run-on sentences. Here’s one example:
“I believe this chapter and the whole book provides a great example of people who struggle with who they are and how they handle that problem and for the ending of the book to end in the way It did was important and really good because it explained how people like Rankine find acceptance in who they are.”
Score: 4 out of 5
Hey Trista, I really enjoyed your blog post and believe they way you went into Rankines struggle with identity and used quotes to wrap up the last chapter of this book was very interesting. Bringing up the ache in your blog was key because it made me think why is she still brining it up, but I realized she wants us the reader to feel it as well and shows us that she will be impacted by this ache for a long time. Rankine says, “You, floating above your certain ache- still the ache coexists. Call that the immanent you- you are you even before you grow into the understanding you are not anyone, worthless, not worth you” (Rankine 139). Rankine uses the word “You” a lot in this book to try to connect to the reader, and is proven in this quote. To answer question, I believe Rankine’s use of “you” does create a more significant impact on the reader when talking about the “ache.”
Hi Trista, I enjoyed reading your blog post. I thought you did a great job explaining what when on throughout the book and what the ending meant. To answer the first part of your second question, the word “you” makes this ache have a greater impact. The word “you” feels like it’s being used to directly address me, the reader and makes it feel like the experiences and observations being described in the book are directed towards me. The use of “you” also creates a sense of responsibility, as I felt compelled to take action or reflect on my attitudes and behaviors. As for the second part of your question, I don’t feel like I related to everything Rankine talked about in the book but I did relate to a lot of it and understood most of it. As a half-black woman, I especially related to some of the stories Rankine shared, I felt connected to the content of the book and it increased my emotional engagement throughout. One of the quotes that increased my emotional engagement and were a source of ache for me was, “The worst injury is feeling you don’t belong so much to you-” (Rankine, 146), there have been times in my life that I felt like I didn’t belong where I was because of who I am, but it made me realize that maybe I’m in the wrong place and that I am who I am and nothing will change that.
Hey Trista I like how you tried to piece together the broken language that Rankine uses to talk in depth about the ache that she feels. I feel as though the authors choice of wording suggest that race is not just an ache but an illness to Rankine as she says “Some call it aging—an internalized liquid smoke blurring ordinary ache”. In this quote Rankine uses words like liquid smoke most likely to identify a thick toxic stream that runs through the body. The smoke also blurs over the ache; the signs and small moments of defeat cover the feelings of trying and failing. I feel like Rankine may be suggesting that by giving up and accepting defeat; that she finds herself less overwhelmed by the pressures of trying to fight against racism.