Author: Jennifer J

Watching the first episode “Democracy” from The 1619 Project highlighted and captivated the role of black Americans in U.S. history. The project was altogether shunned even at our highest court and across the nations as something vulgar and incorrectly depicting our history although it is far from that. In the episode, discussion of slaves, amendments, movements, and voting were all discussed with MacArthur Cotton providing a tearful rendition of his experience in racist America. Black Americans have always had to fight to participate in our country’s democracy and even before that democracy was established they were fighting for the principles which laid its foundation. In this country, we are taught that we were a democracy because of our freedoms, but we leave ourselves questioning “How free are we in a White America?”. The perfectors of our democracy presented an absence of black people to explore and recognize that the true American symbol of power is white men. This highlighted that our public schooling teaches little education straying from the White narrative and leaving many questions about their patriotism as they are cut out from the narrative. This feeds into the white savior narrative although slavery was foundational within a 250-year history. There becomes a shift that highlights that there has been little change to stray from racist norms as voting rights are still meant to hinder people of color although the general media message is that all men are equal. That was most surprising to me altogether as the portrayal of America and The American Dream is an illicit façade. 

It is a historical fact that slaves have benefited America economically and historically, yet maltreatment remains especially through MacArthur’s eyes as he details his experience while incarcerated. In this, he was treated like a death row inmate for protesting for his rights in the 1950s. Generally, school education teaches that this was long ago, but the actions speak for themselves today as we view a racist world. This episode reminds me of Claudia Rankine’s, Citizen: An American Lyric as she discusses her experience as a Black American today. Although she discusses her experience primarily in the form of microaggression, discussion of hate crimes and racial profiling are the theme of this piece of literature. An example of hers that reminds me of the episode was the “Stop and Frisk” Section which discusses experiences of injustice and profiling by police and high courts such as Cotton’s experience. Due to the silence, these people are observed as second-class citizens and receive less help and harsher consequences as though we have not progressed in society. Rankine discusses how little the Black American perspective has changed and the episode discusses how much is hidden from us. She discusses that people will respect her in smaller ways such as physically or vocally but aligning this with “Democracy” is telling as it expands on the perspective that Black Americans are also hindered physically and quietly from society. From here, we recognize that The American Dream is not a possibility for those constantly facing adversity due to their race and that is America’s truth. 

Myriam Gurba shares an in-depth perspective on her work as the author of Mean and her now-written essay “Pocas Pero Locas”. This Distinguished Voices in Literature Event was held over Zoom during the pandemic and was able to be saved for others to connect, distinguish and affirm discussions from Gurba’s memoir. There is an evident disconnect in our world today as masculine energy assumes the manner we carry ourselves in this hetero-normative world and Gurba does not hesitate to call societal dictators out. Many prompts were discussed such as the struggle as a person of color, a survivor, and a woman in today’s world. Although her voice gives off a dainty and gentle tone, Gurba’s words, especially in the story, accentuate a tasteful vulgarity along with profanity to bring power to voices that are silenced. We learn that in her process, she was truly not able to connect with other experiences with a soft-spoken tone and was able to set herself apart. Her approach was beautiful as she was able to take fragments that recognize systematic oppression towards ethnically minorized communities and women. She began the event by reading the chapter “Googolplex” and discussing racial wars. Her reading of this brought deeper understanding as I had my interpretation of the reading and the tone only helped enhance this. We live in a structure derived from fruitful innocence but this strays from Gurba’s idea that being mean is what everyone is entitled to in this nightmare world. Additionally, she brings light to recent attacks on women and people of color in discussion as we have allowed those in the highest office also be the ones who harm us. In the chapter, she discusses a race war using a camp style to accentuate the struggles people of color face due to their ethnic background even at a young age.  

In her second essay, she reads an unfinished essay called “Pocas Pero Locas” which means “Few but Crazy” as she shares her childhood experiences with her cousin as they mimicked a chola lifestyle. I felt connected to this work as it acknowledges struggles in Hispanic households, crime, empathy, and acceptance of the truth. She shares her story through spontaneity and deep empathy as her innocent childhood game became a reality. This admires the significance of this innocence in our world and how all are valid. Here, she recognizes a struggle in culture as well as truths about opportunities and traumas that people of color are more likely to face.  

Gurba finishes by acknowledging the lack of empathy in our world today as well as her approach to trauma in a real way. Many might feel connected through her ghost stories and comparisons but she truly wanted all to be immersed as those who have sexual traumas do. There is beauty to this pain as this social project constructs empathy without granting interpersonal perspective to the reader. The distance insinuates a deeper respect and resonance and is done so flawlessly for understanding but not feeling in such a pornographic and exploiting manner. Additionally, her use of language to discuss the Hispanic-queer experience is similar to Benjamin Garcias’s as vulgarity becomes a technique to push a message as well as the discussion of granting truly beautiful permission. Overall, this event brought a deeper understanding of her work as everything is written so eloquently to drive atypical writing standards into literature. 

Claudia Rankine’s Citizen: An American Lyric describes distinguishing events that many people of color experience throughout their lifetimes that imprint lasting impressions. Derald Wing Sue’s article “Microaggression’s: More Than Just Race” further explains the idea of microaggressions displayed in the chapter with an in-depth synopsis of conscience thought. Here, many situations are posed which are far too similar for many of those that do not fit into the white-male unsaid criteria. In her work, Rankine publishes thought provoking experiences of microaggressions through the eyes of said individuals that leaves all to consider how deep actions plunge into shame and inquisition.  

In Rankine’s first untitled chapter, a series of short poetic essays share stories of inherent racism in everyday life as the story narrated can truly be anyone’s story. The portrayal of a racist America does not seem so far out of reach when discussed aloud with microaggressions being the center of it all. Microaggressions are unintentional actions “that communicate hostile messages to marginalized people” (Wing). The introduction of the reading is truly striking as it connotates that all people share similar experiences and from afar we all have the same ending as she tells with the shared experience of falling asleep. This however is just the beginning as the stories begin in an almost shocking way to incite the audience of the bittersweet experiences of people of color. 

 We observe vast experiences of microaggressions through gratitude, caution and disdain that prove that the attempt for equality has not gone far enough as our conscious thought wraps itself in such a way that humans are not as moral as we think. Although it is not the most extreme example of racism through microaggressions told, Rankine incites a truly disheartening experience as she shares an experience where an unknown man discusses how he must “hire a person of color when there are so many great writers out there” (Rankine 10). Here the microaggression suggests that being a great writer has a direct correlation to race whereas ability has no color. Soon she feels disgust for the person and even questions her sense of humanity herself as a domestic tragedy although this is not the case. Further capitalizing on the words “so” and “great” that Rankine inserts here, it signifies the assumed inability of people of color. As the word “so” promotes a heavy exaggeration of his thought and the idea that opportunity should arrive to white people while “great” here gives the impression that people of color cannot reach the potential to be “great” and are not so due to their race, we understand the impact of the statement. However, another idea is the assumed mutual understanding that this man is white which in turn provokes the audience to understand their own “inherited racial biases that exist outside their conscious awareness” (Wing). Without having to explain, Claudia Rankine has further suggested that we are not as indifferent as we previously may have thought. Although they do not consume us, we do hold these biases within ourselves as many of us have heard or been the perpetrator of this untaxed offense. 

I realized that I do hold these biases through her tales as hard as it is to accept. It became most telling for me as I pictured the scene in my head and assumed which group each belonged to as well as how I assumed the man had phrased it incorrectly. However, this is incorrect as he said it exactly how it was meant: with the idea of diminishing a group. The definition of microaggression describes an unintentional manner but the truth is that it carries intention and comes within us. From certain expressions or phrases, microaggression comes in many forms such as phrases, glares or the manner we consider our safety in certain situations. 

In conclusion, Claudia Rankine’s poetic tales of microaggressions depict the fault within ourselves where conscious thought has the potential to be hurtful. Here, we must consider how we carry ourselves and observe our inner monologue. The chapter is truly thought provoking as Rankine’s terminology annunciates the impact microaggressions leave and how they may look like.  

Discussion Questions: 

1. Through the chapter, Claudia Rankine highlights stories with the shared concept of microaggression. How do you believe she tried to invoke a reaction from the audience? Did she? 

2. On page 12, Rankine shares an experience of microaggression through nonverbal action as well. What is the depth of this action? How are nonverbal microaggressions presented? Why did the woman move closer to her? 

Rankine, Claudia. Citizen: An American Lyric. Dramatists Play Service Inc., 2018.  

Wing Sue, Derald. “Microaggressions: More than Just Race.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 17 Nov. 2010, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/microaggressions-in-everyday-life/201011/microaggressions-more-just-race. 

There is not one set manner to express individual values, stories, and feelings especially in literature and Benjamin Garcia surely intends to break these regulations of typical works. Earlier this week in the Corey Union Fireplace Lounge, the English Department shared one of many distinguished voices in literature where Benjamin Garcia shared his groundbreaking take on poetry with his non-fiction, Thrown in the Throat. There, he read his poems which shared non-traditional values to invoke a reaction from queer people of color as well as a furthering his stance on issues often faced in immigrant households, restraints in today’s America and the innerworkings of balance of one’s identity. Although his poetry was meant for a specific audience, all can take something from his humorous yet emotional writings as everyone can relate to a sense of rejection and even opposition to modern society. However, this was not a typical poem read in a high school classroom. Most have a certain perception of what writing must look like but with Garcia’s colorful language, he was able to work with a broader field which although might seem vulgar, he clarifies that is anything but. Garcia genuinely believes that words are just words and if cursing in poetry is incorrect, so is disrespect of another human being based on something that is not controlled. His work is unique and resonates with an audience that does not understand his personal struggles but can promote a deeper human understanding once he leaves. 

Language truly is a principal factor in any writing and even with the tone throughout, Garcia ensures his work is far more complex and emotional than what it may seem with question sharks, to boundaries, egg teeth, the corpus flower and even a taco. Each poem was carefully crafted to bring light to something he questions and while reverting to his own experience, his work flourishes into poetry which is typically not seen. Furthermore, he emphasizes that each experience is unique to each person as are opinions. However, with this his work appealed to me as he discussed his beliefs of his Hispanic family and experiences I could relate to at some points in my life. What was especially intriguing was the manner he weft Spanish into his poetry so effortlessly and in a manner that only annunciated the importance in one language over the other. Although his use of language could be portrayed inappropriate, the introduction to it only proved how much society stops us and corrects the wrong actions. His language only accentuated the meaning of situations that immigrants may face of being colorists and judgmental due to their culture along or even destigmatizes sexual relationships which are taboo today. By bringing awareness to these, we unleash a side of humanity that all think but do not describe outside the comfort of our personal relationships. There he further defines that his poetry is just writing as he pleases, such as creative works should be. Throughout the event, he emphasizes that he is proud that his work truly belongs to him and that he did not hold back in any way whether it be the genre he was to compose to or the topics he discussed as his poetry was released as a non-fiction due to it not falling along the guidelines it needed. However, he further compared this to the manner that genre could fall within or outside of a spectrum such as all people do whether they deny it or not and that even in this “a poem is a series of arranged mistakes” in which one can decide where to take it. He truly did this even granting himself permission to discuss and speak in the manner he did and by the end of it I believe all can say they were pleasantly surprised and swayed by his writing.  

Garcia’s book can be relayed back to the experience of all people as someone in their family had to emigrate to the Americas and experience the experiences he had. Struggling with sexuality, gender, culture or poverty are all grand and common issues in our society and help conform people into their own individual identity. Whether it be relating their culture to a taco as he did or breaking glass ceiling regarding open discussions, every person has faced their individual battles and that is clear. Even in class we can relate stories told through works such as, The Raisin in the Sun, back to his poetry to describe poverty and discrimination in a way one cannot control their identity but is bound to face discrimination. In the previous situation in which the family was in, they could not afford much, and money became the root of their issues which sparked aggression amongst all, Garcia had experienced as well. In the way, his family did not have space, they did not either, where he felt a burden to his family, all in the Younger family had as well. Furthermore, Garcia felt a common internal struggle in balancing his identity while separating it from his life in America which is a common thing among Kingston’s The Woman Warrior, as she struggles to find herself. Overall, we observe that multicultural literature follows us and brings great points of discussion in the understanding of one another and Benjamin Garcia does an amazing job doing so in his though provoking works. 

Hi, I’m Jennifer and most people either call me Jen or Jenny which feels most comfortable for me. I grew up in Westchester and later moved up to Putnam County which is about three and a half hours from Cortland. I major in Political Science which is strange for Cortland but honestly makes classes feel more personal since they are so small. Currently, I am getting back into reading once again to feel more productive and it seems to be going well.