A review by jbmorgan86
Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine
3.0
Citizen: An American Lyric is a novel-length poem-memoir about racial aggressions and "micro-aggressions." A slip of the tongue or an oversight may seem minor to some, but Rankine argues that these "micro-aggressions," point to a subconscious racism that runs rampant in a culture that has outlawed more egregious forms of racism (slavery, Jim Crow, lynching, segregation, etc.). Ranking reflects on her own personal experiences as well as the experiences of Serena Williams, Zinedine Zidane, Rodney King, Trayvon Martin, and Eric Garner. Ranking weaves together quotes from Zora Neale Hurston, Frederick Douglass, and, most importantly, James Baldwin.
While this is an important poem to read in 21st century America, I was not amazed at the poetry itself. I highly recommend reading Ta-Nehisi Coates' Between the World and Me in conjunction with this book.
While this is an important poem to read in 21st century America, I was not amazed at the poetry itself. I highly recommend reading Ta-Nehisi Coates' Between the World and Me in conjunction with this book.