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During black history month I went to a presentation that Professor Yolanda Clarke held on the negative effects a predominantly white college has on black women and their health. At first I didn’t think I would have found it interesting because I wasn’t able to fully relate to what she was going to say. Which is what I thought at first. But quickly I realized even if you’re not able to relate it does open your eyes to how change is needed. Now that is easier said than done, she brought up a lot of examples of how the racial disparity pushes people of color away from their full potential. And she opened my eyes to soloism. This is when someone is set apart from the group and can’t find anyone who is like them. And this results in a lack of effort and sense of loneliness. And as science proves, people struggle most when they are alone. Not only in tasks but people can even die from prolonged isolation. Just as a baby who grows up with no prenatal care is more likely to die, and babies who are with their mothers regularly are more healthy and more likely to live. And this goes with her next topic, that black women have a shorter life expectancy and this is not only because of the care, but because of the stresses you need to endure while being a black woman. There is no one problem, being a woman and being black is a double edged sword and acts of sexism and racism are targeted towards you. 

With all this in mind there has to be a solution to how to fix them. During the presentation there were people who wanted to learn more and went to understand what they could do to solve these problems. That is a start to how we fix these problems. Allowing for more inclusivity and engagement from the community to understand not to separate people of color. When there are people you feel connected to on a cultural level, it allows for a happier environment. Schools have the budget to give people of color these opportunities but they do not give the resources. This is because they do not believe in black communities to bring their art and inspiration. But there will be no way of knowing if nobody takes the risk, as well as their best foot forward. This must be done by all communities coming together to accommodate for groups that are put to the side. Not only the black community, but all communities that are given unfair opportunities in life. 

 

I attended a very interesting event on poetry titled “Reading by Hai-Dang Phan” in Old Main Colloquium 220. It was presented by Hai-Dang Phan, who was intriducted to the public by Professor Danica Savonick. She introduced him as a great author who holds a PhD in literary studies from the University of Wisconsin and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Florida. He also is the author of a poetry collection, Reenactments, published by Saravan in 2019, and the translator of Phan N. Then, when he started to speak, we could learn that he was born in Vietnam, and became a refuge at two years old. He spent his childhood living in Wisconsin, in a majority white people small town. Because of his origins, he explained that he felt a little bit rejected and used this pain into his poems. He said that his books are kind of inheritance, and that lots of poems relating about the past and legacy.

During this presentation, Hai-Dang Phan read several of his poems to us. He delved into his first work, which represents for him a memory of his childhood as well as all the stories he heard. His inspiration is regularly drawn from the artists he admires, such as a famous photographer whose name does not come to mind. For each poem he read (there were six or seven taken from the first book and a few also from his new collection, if I remember correctly) he took the time afterwards to offer the public an in-depth explanation and detailed description of the latter and the motivations which pushed him to write it. Unfortunately, I will not be able to go back over each of the poems he read because it would be too long, but overall, the recurring theme of his poems is childhood, memories. On the other hand, I chose to present in my review, the poem that touched me the most and that I remembered the best. This poem is called “King Fisher” and the verse that stood out me the most was “I remember, watching you, watching the river, I sense new depth in the meaning of the world”. I found this poem quite different from the others, and the thing that attracted me the most was the fact that it talks about nature within. Indeed, he confides that he is captivated by birds, and what is funny is that he reveals to us that it took him a while before agreeing to write about birds. I remember he asked to the audience who was a “bird watcher”, to try to feel less alone or even ridiculous who knows. This was rather surprising and unusual in his previous poems, but this poem really appealed to me precisely because of its originality and especially because of the fact that the author slips into the skin and into the mind of a bird in trying to interpret his thoughts and really got inspired by this bird, he was really guided by this bird, as shown in the quote I noted above, this bird allowed him to find meaning in things. In short this poem was very interesting, I highly recommend anyone interested to read it.

Ultimately, this event was very interesting and I was really happy to attend it. The gentleness of hang.. as well as the beauty of his writing, his compassion and his fight against discrimination, make his poems real life lessons. It is very pleasant to listen to the author read his poems because it allows you to have the right tone, and all the emotion that it gives off. In the future, I think I will certainly read his new collection because the few poems that he read from it captivated me a lot.

Tuesday, February 13th, I attended a conference titled “The musical expression for African American Lived Experience”, covering African-American music. This conference was presented by Professor Lewis Rosengarten who is a music professor at SUNY Cortland. His presentation was very interesting and his speech was brilliantly supported by examples of music with the intention of introducing us to African American music and recognization of this community work. His presentation was very interesting and his speech was brilliantly supported by examples of music with the intention of introducing us to Afro-American music. During this conference, he chronologically  explored the evolution of African-American musical styles from the time to the nowadays, including spirituals, gospel, ragtime, blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rap, in order to show the impact on this music on the African-American community. Today, I find it interesting to briefly retrace the main aspects of the musical styles he described. 

First of all, he stared talking about Spirituals, that were crucial for African Americans as they provided a means of expressing faith, hope, and resistance during the period of slavery. They served as a form of communal expression, offering solace and strength in the face of oppression. Spirituals allowed enslaved Africans to preserve cultural identity, communicate coded messages, and assert their humanity. They provided a sense of connection to their African roots while adapting to the new realities of life in America. Then, he made the transition between Spirituals and Gospel music. Gospel emerged from African-American churches and became a cornerstone of religious and cultural life. It served as a source of inspiration, comfort, and empowerment, reflecting the enduring faith and resilience of the community. Gospel music played a pivotal role in shaping African-American identity and fostering a sense of unity and solidarity. Its blend of Christian hymns with African musical traditions provided a platform for spiritual expression and communal worship. Furthermore, based on the listening of “Swipesy catwalk” by Scott Joplin, he talked about Ragtime music, saying that it emerged in the late 19th century as a synthesis of African rhythms, European melodies, and American popular music. It provided opportunities for African-American musicians to showcase their talent and creativity. Ragtime represented a form of cultural fusion and innovation, challenging racial stereotypes and paving the way for future generations of African-American musicians. Its syncopated rhythms and lively melodies captured the spirit of the time and influenced the development of jazz and other genres. Later, he discussed about blues, a music style originated in the Mississippi Delta among African-American communities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It served as a means of expressing the joys and sorrows of everyday life, offering a cathartic outlet for emotional expression. The blues provided a voice for marginalized communities, articulating experiences of hardship, love, and loss. Its raw emotion and honesty resonated with audiences worldwide, influencing the development of jazz, rock and roll, and other genres. Continuing with Jazz, he explained that it emerged in the early 20th century as a fusion of African rhythms, European harmonies, and American innovation. It became a symbol of cultural expression and artistic freedom, challenging conventions and pushing boundaries. Jazz provided African-American musicians with a platform for improvisation, collaboration, and self-expression. It reflected the spirit of innovation and resilience within the community and served as a catalyst for social change and cultural exchange. Moreover, he discussed about R&B saying that it evolved from the blues and gospel traditions in the mid-20th century, incorporating elements of jazz, rock and roll, and soul music. It became synonymous with the African-American experience, reflecting the joys and struggles of urban life. R&B provided a soundtrack for social and cultural movements, capturing the spirit of post-war America and the civil rights era. Its infectious rhythms and soulful vocals influenced popular music around the world, shaping the sounds of Motown, funk, and hip-hop. It provided a voice for disenfranchised youth, addressing issues of poverty, racism, and inequality. Finally, he finished his presentation talking about Rap music, explaining that it became a powerful tool for self-expression and activism, empowering African-American communities and challenging mainstream narratives. Originated in the Bronx in the 1970s as a form of street poetry and social commentary,  its rhythmic delivery and lyrical complexity showcased the creativity and resilience of hip-hop culture, inspiring generations of artists and activists.

Overall, I really liked this presentation because it allowed me to learn more about musical styles and their origins. Passionate about music, particularly jazz and R&B, I really liked the passion he conveyed during his conference through his energy and his tone which was very cheerful. The thing that surprised me the most, I think, is the fact that R&B appeared so early (mid-20th century), when I thought it was a musical style specific to the 90s.

For my event review, I was unable to attend an event at Cortland, so I will be writing about the film, The Color Purple. The Color Purple (2023) was directed by Blitz Bazawile. The film is based on Alice Walker’s novel, “The Color Purple”, which was published in 1982 and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1983. This is the second movie adaptation of the novel aside from Steven Spielberg’s 1985 version, as well as a theatre adaptation that was created on Broadway in 2001. The film takes place in the early 1900s in Georgia, during the Jim Crow south. The film is about the story of Celie, an African American woman who endures several hardships throughout the film. She is faced with an abusive father and later husband. During these times, she finds strength in her sister, Nettie, and her new friendship with Shug Avery. Through two abusive marriages, as well as growing up in the America’s south during the 1900s, we are taken on her journey of her life and its hardships where she learned the power of strength, friendship, love, and discovery, and resilience.

When watching this movie, I particularly took note of the use of music in the movie. Although there were many important takeaways from the movie, I also particularly enjoyed these parts of the movie. The film is not labeled as a musical, but that does not go to say that the film doesn’t take advantage of the use of song and dance as a form of expression. Shug Avery, a key character in the film, is a blues singer. The blues is a genre that historically has been used in expressing African American’s identity and culture. In class, when learning about the Harlem Renaissance and The Black Arts movement, we were able to learn about how art played such a key role in the lives of African Americans and the development of their identities during times of discrimination and racial prejudice. Music especially was such an important part in these times. Music could express pride, joys, losses, experiences, and struggles. In the movie, the use of music and dance was used multiple times to portray many different feelings. example, during the scene where they are working on Harpo’s house, it is a scene that begins as a tired and sad scene. They then break into song and dance where he talks about working ‘til the sun goes down. We see again in a scene ‘Miss Celie’s Pants’, where Celie and the people in the seamstress shop break into song and dance (including tap dancing!). This is a super fun and entertaining scene to watch, and it ties into how song and dance can be used to expressed so many different emotions.

Overall, in the film, The Color Purple was a wonderful film that portrays so many valuable lessons, the power of friendship, the power of strength, and resilience. We see the use of song and dance used throughout the film to express many different feelings, which we also saw demonstrated in the Black Arts Movement during the 1960s and 1970s, and the Harlem Renaissance during the 1920s. Song and dance is made for expression, and we see it being used to bring together African American communities during a time of struggle and hardships.

Claudia Rankine’s “Citizen: An American Lyric” is a barrier-breaking, powerful mixed media piece which captures everyday racism and micro aggressions towards African American individuals in our society.  Rankine chooses to write incorporating several sources and artwork, but a key aspect of the book is her choice to write primarily in the second-person.  This choice carries a sense of controlled ambiguity as the main character “You” is supposed to be a black woman.  As the reader, we now obligated to taken on this identity of a particular African American woman and her experiences to feel what she feels; to go through what she goes through, and to experience the racism and micro aggressions as she goes through them.  In the previous section of the book, Rankine incorporates multiple images of artwork, along with examples of how other African Americans have handled micro-aggressions and racism, such as professional athlete Serena Williams.  However, in the final section of “Citizen” for this Thursday’s reading, it seems like the second person point of view has fully dominated over the other media with the exception of the final page, which is uniquely written in the first person.  This can suggest that Rankine’s authorial choice to primarily use the second person point of view followed by a brief first person point of view directly coincides with the character “You” desperately trying to make sense of the racism she’s experienced course of the book.  It seems that You’s desperation is grasped by the new first person perspective because of this particular sequence.

Rankine writes extensively in this section about the “ache” of the character You.  She writes, “All our fevered history won’t instill insight, / won’t turn a body conscious” (Rankine 142).  Here, Rankine is orchestrating the character You to feel a sense of defeat from constant racism.  This quote could be referring to the endless oppressions people of color have endured in our country, and You realizes that it can not be used to change the hearts or the mind of those who don’t understand its evil causing her spiral.  Rankine writes “You are not sick, you are injured— / you ache for the rest of life” (Rankine 143).  This quote creates a level of disparity, as You accepts that this feeling of oppression will never go away.  A sickness is something temporary, while an injury can be sustained long term.  Rankine is telling You that she will feel this internal struggle forever, suggesting that there is significant and dark longevity in racism as it has sustained through past, present, and future.  We see this tension and despair continue to escalate as Rankine writes on.  She writes, “Who shouted? You? You / shouted you, the murmur in the air…” (Rankine 145).  Again, a helpless feeling arises as Rankine compares You’s shout with a murmur in the air, suggesting no matter how loud You shouts; no matter how much effort she puts towards pushing back on the micro-aggressions and racism she’s experienced and understood throughout the book, her efforts will ultimately be unsuccessful.  A defeating realization and acceptance to assume the role of the book’s emotional climax.

In Rankine’s final page, she makes the dramatic change of switching to the first person.  She writes that as she’s laying in bed with her partner, she wants to tell him about a micro-aggression she experienced the day before.  She explains at the tennis courts, a woman was about to park in front of her, but after seeing she was black, turned around and parked somewhere else (Rankine 159).  She says to her partner, “I could have followed her to worry my question but I had to go, I was expected on court, I grabbed my racket” (Rankine 159).  Rankine expresses that she felt prompted to scold the woman, to point out her micro-aggression, but she didn’t have enough time.  Ultimately, here Rankine chose her peace instead of doing what was right in the situation which would have been correcting the behavior.  However, when her partner asks if she won her match she responds, “It wasn’t a match…It was a lesson” (Rankine 159).  This perspective by Rankine is profoundly wise and elevated.  For this perspective and point of view to be placed in the final moments of the book, directly following the character You’s overwhelming realization of desperation and a never-ending headache of racism, is to relocate the audience to a less desperate place and to one of acceptance.  For Rankine to end her book with a “lesson” profoundly suggests in a pessimistic way that the racism she’s experienced isn’t something that can be won or lost.  Her outlook on the final micro-aggression she writes about seems to be less about the unfairness and desperation expressed in the second person, but about the acceptance and realization that the micro-aggressions she’s experienced have taught her more about herself, made her who she is, and ultimately have taught her valuable lessons about other people; a deeply unfortunate and unfair lesson expressed to us by the author.

 

Discussion questions:

Why do you think Rankine writes using examples of racism in sports in the book and uses sports figuratively?  What is the significance of this?

I interpreted Rankine’s switch to the first person to be representative of herself and her own thoughts in order to deliver a message to the reader.  Do you think that Rankine writes as herself on the final page, or do you think she’s writing as someone else?

Works Cited

Rankine, Claudia. Citizen: An American Lyric. Graywolf Press, 2014.

The last section of our readings for “Citizen: An American lyric” was filled with profound and somewhat confusing poems, at least at face value. I found myself reading them repeatedly to find something I can cling to when I write my blog post. I found myself getting frustrated the more I read, wishing to find something more tangible like an event or a story that I could just recite or relate to a statistic. I did not find that, but what I did find was a deeper understanding, realization, and interpretation of what I believe Rankine was trying to do. It’s too easy to get a reaction or response from a story you tell, or an account of what happened to someone.  A poem, an interpretive form of literature, forces an involuntary response, something raw, unedited, and genuine. If you want to gain anything real from a poem, you must read between the lines. Rankine is trying to invoke an organic reaction to racism and micro aggressions, not some trained response. Rankine could have ended the book with a story that provides closure, something to signify the end, but instead chose to have the readers think beyond the last page.

Responding to a poem and articulating your feelings towards it is a very intimate process, much more intimate than responding to a specific story or a data sheet with a death toll. Responses to poems are infinite and neither wrong nor right. Earlier in the book, we read and talked about Serena Williams, how awful the referees had treated her, and the blatant racism that was directed towards her. Our general responses to these stories were all relatively similar in that it was a horrible thing to have happened to her and a horrible thing that someone would have to go through. Now, poems are stories as well, but it’s how they’re told that makes a difference. On page 159 of Rankine’s poem, it states, “I can hear the even breathing that creates passages to dreams. And yes, I want to interrupt to tell him her us you me I don’t know how to end what doesn’t have an ending.” (159); this is infinitely interpretive and emotionally engaging.  You could spend hours wondering who she meant by, “him her us you me” (159). Also, what could she have meant by ending something that doesn’t have an ending? Could she be talking about racism? Maybe, maybe not. The point is that the answer isn’t right in front of your face. I think that encompasses what micro aggressions is are. It is something that seems to be nothing at face value, but once you read between the lines, and allow yourself to be vulnerable, you then start to realize what an impact your actions can have. For example, if you pull into a parking spot and notice that the person you are parked next to is black, but then you decide to move your car a few spaces over – it isn’t flagrantly racist, but implied. This is similar to the answer of a poem’s meaning not being obvious, but if you really look into it and internalize your actions, you will see how that behavior could be indirectly racist.

On the very last pages of the book, we see a painting. Paintings are also a form of interpretive art similar to poems. There are two pictures of the same painting but one is zoomed in to a specific section of the artwork. This hints at the idea that Rankine wants you to look closer; to pay more attention and think deeper into the meaning between the lines. I also feel that it conveys how everything is not always as it seems. At first glance, the painting just looks like a ship battling a storm, but when it is zoomed in, you realize the tiny details. Something may seem innocent at first but could be deeper and darker than it appears. I believe this is what Rankine intended: to end with something that cannot be ended, something that can always be altered or thought of indefinitely. She uses her poems and the paintings at the end of her book to suggest that the story isn’t over and that she doesn’t want our thoughts of racism and injustice to stop once we finish reading. In the final line of the last poem in the book, it states, “It wasn’t a match, I say. It was a lesson” (159); a match is something with a start and an end, but a lesson is something you carry with you for the rest of your life. Rankine’s use of poems and art to finish off her book was a brilliant way to encompass the full extent of the intricacies within poems and micro aggressions. Ultimately, she blended something beautiful with something ugly and hateful to symbolize the boundless complexities of racism.

 

 

Discussion questions

1. Was there an example of micro aggressions in Rankine’s section of poems that stuck out to you? What made it impactful for you?
2. Do you feel that the use of poems in African-American literature was a stronger way to convey the struggles and themes of racism than narrative stories? Why or why not?

Works Cited:

Claudia Rankine, Citizen : An American lyric (Graywolf 2014)

The interview “In Memphis, people call for police reform after Tyre Nichols’ killing” raises the question of police violence and how do we work together to reduce police violence. This story is about a traffic stop that turned violent resulting in the loss of Tyre’s life three days later in a hospital. While reading and understanding this story it states Tyre was stopped for speeding and was pulled from the car and put on the ground by 5 officers in Memphis. With that being said the beating of Tyre did not take place at the first stop with 5 officers being there somehow one man was able to overpower and escape 5 officers when he was lying on his side with 3 of the 5 officers actively trying to restrain him. This makes me wonder how can the police training process be reformed because something must be wrong if a one man is able to escape from 5 big police officers from the ground then make it back to his feet and run off. It doesn’t sound like these people have been properly trained or lack the skills to restrain someone without the use of deadly force.

 

Goff was asked by Shapiro what would be the number one thing he would want to change to reduce police violence and Goff admittedly said that that was a tricky question but if he had to change one thing it was “Use police for less”(PG 1) This is an interesting angle that could help with some problems. What Goff means by this is there is no need for someone to call for something that does not need a badge and gun to appear. For example, a suicidal patient. The last thing they would want to see is a gun, a badge, and someone with very little training in dealing with mental health emergencies. Another example is if a homeless person’s main problem is they live outside in the elements, and have no food or water, sending an officer with a gun and the threat of being arrested and potentially beaten does not seem like the right call to action. Having an officer on stand by is different that could be ok but having them as the first respondent to a nonviolent situation could cause more problems than good especially if the person already doesn’t feel safe around cops because of the power imbalance in the real world.

 

Goff made another interesting point that might hit a little closer to home. In Ithaca Tompkins County the police have been told to end all low level traffic violations like speeding tickets in the case of Tyre because the ticket can always be issued through mail and they will get the perpetrator eventually. “I’ll tell you that, in Ithaca – in Tompkins County, N.Y., in Saint Louis, Mo., in Berkeley, Calif., we’re very happy to have encouraged local leaders to end low-level traffic enforcement by law enforcement and to stop sending police when there’s a nonfatal accident.”(PG 1) At the same time, this would reduce police violence by simply just removing them from the situation and allowing the police to avoid conflicts that are nonthreatening. This will ensure fewer altercations with the police and a slightly less police presence while still holding authority over people to make sure rules are being followed. This would also help protect police officers while protecting the public. The reason for less police presence in places they normally aren’t or need to be is a healthy thing; because I believe that many people would agree that not seeing the police or any government official during the day is usually a pretty good day. What I mean by that is every time you see a police officer or a firefighter all dressed up and the lights are on in their vehicle outside a building or just driving past you always think “What has gone wrong?”  “I hope everyone is ok” and if it has something to do with you it raises your stress levels and some people might act erratically in the face of a Police officer. I’ve never heard someone say “Yay the police are at my front door unannounced and I never called I bet it’s some good news” It just doesn’t sound normal at all. Having fewer badges and guns in people’s faces on a daily basis in nonviolent scenarios would help decrease the chances of police Violence and would make the jobs of the police easier and safer.

Policing is not an easy task and there are many split second decisions that need to be made, and many people are not capable of the task. Whether it is physically mentally, or emotionally it is very hard to figure out who all those people are individually, and have them removed from the police force to get rid of the “Bad eggs”.  It’s nearly impossible to do that in the real world but there are a few things that could be done to reduce the chances of violence. As mentioned earlier better training on learning techniques to take someone down and restrain them without having 5 guys pepper spray, beat, and electrocute a signal person to the point of near death just to get handcuffs on them. And as mentioned by Goff “Use police for less”( PG 1) 

 

• Would using the police for less help reduce police violence why or why not?

 

• Do you think the use of AI policing might be the future of equitable policing?  

 

• What do you think would be the best course of action to reduce police violence?   

In the book Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine Parts II and III, there are reoccurring times of the influence of the past in the present, images in perpetuating racial violence, past histories of racial violence and racial discrimination and how they continue to show in the daily life and what happened to professional athletes who are known for the greatness in their game. Rankine speaks about what Serena Williams went through during her career and it is very sad how she was treated. Rankine talks about the struggles of being an African American in an American society, Rankine brings up many scenarios in which African Americans were treated very poorly. In Parts II and III of Citizen: An American Lyric, she includes images and some pages that are just blank, which leaves readers thinking about what they saw in the images, and it is rare for a book to have blank pages, which I think is a unique strategy by Rankine to keep the readers hooked. Rankine mentions scenarios that happen to African Americans and how they are treated poorly by continuing to speak in the 2^nd-person so you could pretend to be in their shoes.

 

In Part II of Citizen: An American Lyric, Rankine’s focus was to speak about the tennis phenomenon Serena Williams and the things she went through during her career, which is still going to this day. Serena is known as one of the greatest tennis players and how she treated during her career is such a disgrace. There are times where she was treated unfairly on the court and people in the stands noticed it. Rankine brings it up in Part II, stating “The most notorious of Serena’s detractors takes the form of Mariana Alves, the distinguished chair umpire. In 2004 Alves was excused from officiating any more matches of the final day of the US Open after she made five bad calls against Serena in her quarterfinal matchup against fellow American Jennifer Capriati. The serves and returns Alves called out were landing, stunningly unreturned by Capriati, inside the lines, no discerning eyesight needed.” (Rankine 26-27). It was clear to many that Alves was leaning one way during the match because the description of inside the lines, no discerning eyesight needed is just proving that Alves had something against Serena Williams for some odd reason and was umpiring in a cheating way. Another example Rankine speaks on is “Though no one was saying anything explicitly about Serena’s black body, you are not the only viewer who thought it was getting in the way of Alves’s sight line.” (Rankine 27). Serena had her response to the unfairness stating, “I am very angry and bitter right now. I feel cheated. Shall I go on? I feel cheated.” (Rankine 27). Serena has the right to be angry and bitter because she is in the right and was cheated and the match was totally unfair. This scenario was an example of racial violence and racial discrimination because Alves was treating Serena in a very unfair way and what happened to her while playing the game she loved.

 

Also, in Part II, Rankine shows a photo perpetuating racial violence. Rankine shows an image of Caroline Wozniacki, former number one player in the country mocks Serena during a match against her which is awful. Rankine states “Now that there is no calling out of injustice, no yelling, no cursing, no finger wagging or head shaking, the media decides to take up the mantle when on December 12, 2012, two weeks after Serena is named WTA Player of the Year, the Dane Caroline Wozniacki, a former number one-player, imitates Serena by stuffing towels in her top and shorts, all in good fun, at an exhibition match. Racist? CNN wants to know if the outrage is the proper response.” (Rankine 36). This showing by Caroline Wozniacki is another example of how poorly Serena was treated during her professional career.

 

Rankine speaks on the struggles of being an African American in an American society in Part III. She talks about scenarios where racial discrimination occurs. Rankine states, “At the end of a brief phone conversation, you tell the manager you are speaking with that you will come by his office to sign the form. When you arrive and announce yourself, he blurts out, I did not know you were black!” (Rankine 44). That is one of the many scenarios Rankine speaks on in Part III, racial violence and racial discrimination must come to a stop and it should have a long time ago.

 

In conclusion, Rankine does a great job explaining the struggles of being an African American in an American society by showing many scenarios and that even when you are a professional athlete that everyone loves, you can be treated terribly for no reason and the themes of  the influence of the past in the present, images in perpetuating racial violence, past histories of racial violence and racial discrimination and how they continue to show in the daily life and what happened to professional athletes who are known for the greatness in their game shows in Parts II and III way too often and there needs to be changes to how African Americans are treated immediately.

Discussion questions:

1. Did Rankine do a good job in Parts II and III by showing scenarios to the readers with what goes on in the daily life of African Americans and the struggles that are battled through?
2. Was Alves in the wrong in 2004 in Serena’s match? Why or why not?

 

Works Cited:

Claudia Rankine, Citizen: An American Lyric (Graywolf 2014)

Microaggressions are subtle, often unintentional, verbal or non-verbal slights or insults that communicate derogatory or negative messages to marginalized groups. These actions can be based on race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other characteristics. Derald Wing Sue, a professor of psychology and education at Columbia University, is a leading expert in this area. In one of his previous articles, Wing Sue discussed microaggressions from a more racial perspective. However, he has decided to focus his study more on microaggressions within the female community as well as the gay community. Through his article Microaggressions : more than just race, he chooses to debate microaggressions in everyday life. He then shares his knowledge on microaggressions by clearly explaining to us what it is about. He then highlights several perspectives that he considers essential by firstly affirming that most well-intentioned White Americans have inherited racial biases that exist outside their conscious awareness. He also shows that microaggressions are verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults that communicate hostile messages to marginalized people. In his work, Sue has highlighted that microaggressions are not always overt or intentional acts of discrimination but can still have a significant impact on individuals’ mental health and well-being. 

Through his article, the author chooses to stage situations in order to denounce malicious and discriminatory behavior. In fact, the latter chooses to highlight situations and daily prejudices which seem almost insignificant but which, on the contrary, are offensive for the person concerned. It is possible to use one of the examples of situations, that he gave in the article, to show all the injustice and discrimination that is found there. In the “gender microaggressions” section, Wing Sue confronts us with the following situation: “A female physician wearing a stethoscope is mistaken as a nurse. (Hidden message: Women should occupy nurturing and not decision-making roles. Women are less capable than men).” Even if at first glance the action of confusing the profession of nurse and doctor might not shock and be perceived as a harmless act, in reality here Wing Sue proves that it is quite the opposite and that behind certain thoughts and words there is always a hidden message. Indeed, here, it perpetuates harmful stereotypes and biaises about gender roles and professions. Such assumptions are based on outdated and discriminatory beliefs that certain professions are more suitable or natural for women, while others are reserved for men. This assumption reinforces the stereotype that nursing is a female-dominated profession, while medecine is primarily for men. It disregards the reality that women can and do excel in various fields, including medicine, and can hold positions of authority and expertise as doctors. Additionally, it undermines the accomplishments and qualifications of women in medecine by assuming they hold lower-ranking positions. Such assumptions can contribute to a hostile work environment for women in male-dominated fields like medecine, where they may already face challenges related to gender discrimination, bias and lack of recognition for their contribution.  

Furthermore, Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine, also relates about microaggressions, particularly those directed at women because it bare a series of everyday encounters that illustrate the experiences of microaggressions faced by the protagonist, who is a black woman navigating various social contexts in America. These encounters, though seemingly mundane on the surface, carry significant weight due to their implications and the racial dynamics at play. She experiences subtle acts of exclusion, such as being overlooked or dismissed in social situations. These acts may seem minor, but they contribute to a sense of otherness and marginalization. She also experiences microinvalidations and gaslighting, where her experiences of racism are minimized or denied by others. This gaslighting can take the form of well-intentioned but dismissive comments like “I’m sure they didn’t mean it that way” or “You’re overreacting.” These responses invalidate her experiences and feelings, contributing to a sense of isolation and frustration.

In conclusion, Wing Sue as well as Rankine are fighting against microaggression by trying to immerse ourselves in a discriminatory situation in order to represent to ourselves what discriminated people experience and thus allows a radical awareness. 

Discussion questions :

What role do bystanders play in addressing and preventing microaggressions against women? How can individuals intervene effectively to support victims, challenge harmful behaviors, and promote environments of respect and equality?

How do microaggressions targeting sexual orientation impact the daily lives and experiences of gay individuals? How do these subtle forms of prejudice contribute to feelings of marginalization, alienation, and stress within the LGBTQ+ community? 

Works cited :

Derald Wing Sue, Microaggressions : More than just race

Claudia Rankine, Citizen : An American lyric (Graywolf 2014)

“If they don’t see happiness in the picture, at least they’ll see the black.” This quote introduces the reader to the world of Citizen: An American Lyric, a book by Claudia Rankine that details the struggles of living in American society as an African American in a unique way; this idea is immediately thrown to the reader at the beginning of the book. The opening chapter contains small anecdotes depicting your firsthand struggles as an African American. What makes this book unique from others is the effective writing strategy that Rankine implements throughout the chapter, which allows all readers to relate to the subject being discussed. In Citizen, Claudia Rankine’s constant use of the second person ‘you’ serves as a universal character that readers can relate to while educating readers about the phenomenon known as John Henryism. 

The first of many powerful instances starts within the book’s first pages. Imagine this: You are a Catholic school student, and a girl asks if she could copy off your test; while you do not know the girl, you let her cheat on your test anyway. After this, you two only talk the day the next test comes. But she constantly says that you smell good and that you have features similar to a white person. This story ends when she thanks you for letting her cheat and mentions how she feels about cheating off an “almost white person.” (Rankine, 3.) The emotional impact of these experiences is palpable, inviting the reader to feel empathetic towards the ‘you’ character. Another instance appears further in the chapter when you and a woman eat lunch at a café. You two order your food and immediately talk about college; the woman mentions how she, her father, her grandfather, and you have all attended the same college. She grows disgruntled as she explains how her son was not accepted into the school and blames affirmative action; how do you react? Do you apologize for ‘taking her son’s spot?’ You sit there as she grows upset about how you took her son’s place at that school. (Rankine, 12.) Situations similar to this probably cause much unwanted stress; you seem never to be able to escape this horrid mistreatment. Following these events, you decide to seek help. You have contacted your therapist over the phone for some time now and scheduled an appointment to meet in person. On the day of the appointment, you go towards the back of the house to the entrance where patients typically meet. You ring the doorbell, and soon later, the woman at the door screams at the top of her lungs, “Get away from my house! What are you doing in my yard?” (Rankine, 18.) She yells as if a dog has gained the power of speech; once you step back, you explain that you are there for an appointment. After realizing her mistake, all she does is constantly apologize. (Rankine, 18.)

These were just some of a few examples in the chapter of the heavy amount of racism a person could face throughout their life. One of the chapter’s key themes is John Henryism, a term coined by Sherman James. It refers to the high levels of stress experienced by individuals due to racism, and this societal stress can have severe lifelong health implications (Rankine, 10.) Citizen is a valuable tool for readers to explore John Henryism through the lens of a universal character, fostering a deeper understanding of the African American experience. Rankine purposefully writes in a second-person perspective so that all readers can relate to this struggle. Authors often struggle to get readers to relate to their characters so that they are engaged with learning the theme; only some people have lived through similar experiences in the real world. If the book is written in the first or third person, then the total number of people who relate to the text shrinks, as many readers may find that the narrator or outside characters share different sentiments than they do. With a second-person perspective involving ‘you,’ every person reading this chapter can relate to the presented struggles. This opens the range of audience engaged with the reading and who may want to learn more about John Henryism. Having a universal character forces the reader to relate to the text and may instinctively allow them to immerse themselves better into it.

Other writers could use styles similar to Claudia Rankine’s in Citizen, which implements the second-person point of view with the word ‘you’ to better allow their readers to relate to the text’s themes. This unique writing style allows all readers to create a character of themselves in the author’s environment, allowing them to learn more about their world. Rankine uses the example of John Henryism by having the main character (you) face racial hardships in most aspects of life, later introducing the term and highlighting its adverse long-term effects. 

Discussion Questions:

1. Is it important for Americans to learn about John Henryism? Why or why not?
2. Do you think that the meaning of this text would change if there was a specific character instead?

Works Cited

Claudia Rankine, Citizen: An American Lyric (Graywolf, 2014)