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54 pages 1 hour read

Claudia Rankine

Citizen: An American Lyric

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2014

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine is a genre-blending examination of race, racism, and citizenship in contemporary America. Through a mix of prose, poetry, and visual art, the book details various racial microaggressions and systemic injustices that African Americans face in everyday situations, while questioning the concept of a 'post-racial' society. The book contains detailed accounts of racially motivated violence and traumatic events.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Claudia Rankine's Citizen: An American Lyric has been lauded for its powerful depiction of racial microaggressions and systemic racism, resonating deeply with modern social issues. Critics praise its innovative, genre-blending structure and poignant prose. However, some find its fragmented style challenging. Overall, it's a profound, thought-provoking read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Citizen: An American Lyric?

A reader who would enjoy Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine is deeply interested in topics of race, identity, and social justice, presented in a lyrical, poignant format. Those who appreciated Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me or Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye would find this book compelling and thought-provoking.

Book Details
Pages

160

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Contemporary

Publication Year

2014

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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