You, Yourself, and Yours: An Analysis of Audience Positioning in African American Literature
This is a higher-level African American Literature course. In the course, we focused on works like:
Paul Lawrence Dunbar: “We Wear the Mask”
John Lewis: March: Book 1 (Graphic Novel)
Amiri Baraka: “Someone Blew up America”
Maya Angelou: (Preface&Chapters 1-3) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Amanda Gorman: “The Hill We Climb”
Claude McKay: “If We Must Die”
Claudia Rankine: Citizen: An American Lyric
In this persuasive, literary analysis essay, begin with an analysis of Claudia Rankine’s Citizen: An American Lyric and create an argument that links Citizen, the focus question, and “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman
Focus Question:
Audience Positioning
Rankine uses a second-person perspective throughout the book, addressing much of the text to “you.” How do you feel the use of this perspective affected your reading of the book? What angles of experience were you surprised to inhabit, and why?
Sample Solution
In her book Citizen: An American Lyric, poet and playwright Claudia Rankine employs a second-person perspective to address the reader directly, forcing them to confront their own complicity in the perpetuation of racism. By using this approach, Rankine is able to effectively draw attention to the everyday occurrences of racism which are so often overlooked or dismissed by society. Through its use of vivid imagery and personal narratives, Citizen challenges readers to acknowledge their role in continuing systemic oppression.
The second-person perspective used throughout Citizen creates an intimate relationship between writer and reader that invites reflection on one’s own identity as well as how they interact with those who exist outside of their social sphere. This approach allows readers to occupy various angles of experience ranging from direct victims of racism experiencing physical violence or emotional trauma to those complicit through silent inaction or even active promotion of oppressive structures such as white supremacy (Coates 2020). Furthermore, through its exploration of microaggressions and the power dynamics that enable these experiences, Citizen encourages readers not only to recognize but also take responsibility for participating in oppressive practices (Hollinger 2019).
Rankine’s focus on individual action serves as a reminder that though it may be difficult work, change begins with us. This idea is echoed in Amanda Gorman’s poem “The Hill We Climb” wherein she calls upon her audience to create a better future—one based on unity rather than division—through individual actions like speaking truthfully about our history and making space for uncomfortable conversations about race (Gorman 2021).
In conclusion, by employing the second person narrative throughout her book Citizen: An American Lyric Claudia Rankine confronts readers with their potential complicity in continuing systemic oppression while simultaneously challenging them towards taking responsibility for creating meaningful change by engaging honestly & without prejudice.