Are there other ways in which Citizen feels like a book that has changed in light of more recent events?
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: Yes.
In light of recent events, Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine feels even more urgent and relevant. The book’s exploration of race, identity, and microaggressions has always been powerful, but in recent years, particularly after high-profile instances of police violence, systemic racism, and the rise of movements like Black Lives Matter, the book takes on an intensified resonance. Its reflection on the lived experience of Black Americans and the ways in which race is both subtly and overtly policed in society seems to echo the concerns of ongoing social justice movements.
The poetry collection’s style, combining lyrical prose with personal and historical reflections, directly engages with contemporary conversations around race and identity. This interaction feels especially significant today as protests against racial injustice continue, and issues surrounding policing, inequality, and white supremacy are more widely discussed in the media. Furthermore, the book’s use of the second-person perspective allows for an intimate and confrontational relationship with the reader, which is amplified in light of the social and political climate.
Additionally, the book’s exploration of the psychological toll of racism—through its references to body image, legal system disparities, and the daily experience of Blackness—mirrors the growing national conversations about mental health, particularly in the context of marginalized communities. The 2020s have seen a dramatic rise in discussions about mental health in communities of color, making Rankine’s meditations on the emotional and psychological burden of racial trauma especially impactful.
Rankine’s Citizen is not just a book about race but a cultural artifact that evolves with the times. As society continues to confront issues of racial injustice, Citizen stands as both a literary mirror and a call to action.