Citizen

Citizen cover
Good Books rating 4.5

Technical:
  • ID: 727
  • Added: 2025-09-19
  • Updated: 2025-09-20
  • ISBN: 9781555973483
  • Publisher: Graywolf Press
  • Published: 2014-10-07
  • Formats: 26
  • Reviews: 4
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Citizen is a groundbreaking work by Claudia Rankine that delves into the persistent and often subtle racial aggressions experienced in contemporary life. Through a mix of poetry, essay, and visual art, Rankine captures the cumulative effect of these encounters, whether they are seemingly minor slights or overt offensives, on individuals and society as a whole. The book challenges the notion of a 'post-race' society and highlights how these experiences shape our sense of belonging and citizenship. Winner of numerous awards, including the National Book Critics Circle Award in Poetry and the NAACP Image Award, Citizen is a testament to Rankine's ability to articulate the complex and often unspoken realities of race in America. The book's innovative format and profound insights make it a compelling read that resonates deeply with readers.

Reviews
brevitymag.com · Unknown · 2025-09-25
profound 4.50

Citizen is a powerful and thought-provoking collection of poems and essays that explores the complexities of race and identity in America. The book's raw and unfiltered voice challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about systemic racism and personal experiences.

Citizen is a profound exploration of what it means to be a black woman in America. The book's blend of poetry and prose creates a deeply personal and collective narrative that resonates with the reader. The raw and unfiltered voice of the author makes the book both powerful and unsettling, as it delves into the everyday realities of racism and the struggle for identity. The book's structure, which includes found poems and essays, adds layers of meaning and depth. It's a book that demands attention and reflection, and it leaves a lasting impact on the reader. The themes of race, identity, and belonging are explored with such honesty and courage that it's hard not to be moved by the author's experiences and insights.


Quick quotes

    The book's power lies in its ability to make the personal universal.

    The raw and unfiltered voice of the author is both powerful and unsettling.

    The book's structure adds layers of meaning and depth.

goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-09-25
profound 4.50

Citizen is a powerful and thought-provoking collection of essays and poems that delve into the experiences of being a Black woman in America. The raw and unfiltered voice of the author makes it a compelling read that challenges societal norms and systemic racism.

Citizen is a profound exploration of race, gender, and identity in contemporary America. The author's personal narratives and poetic reflections offer a deep and moving insight into the daily realities of being a Black woman. This collection is not just a book but a mirror held up to society, reflecting its biases and injustices. The writing is both lyrical and brutal, making it a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of race relations today. The author's ability to blend personal experience with broader social commentary is what makes Citizen so impactful and unforgettable.


Quick quotes

    The body is a prison

    but it is also the means by which we experience the world.

    I am not free.

    The cost of black life is not measured in years but in moments.

triumphofthenow.com · Unknown · 2016-09-20
powerful 4.50

Citizen by Claudia Rankine is a powerful and thought-provoking collection that explores the experiences of race and identity in America. The book's blend of poetry, prose, and visual art creates a unique and impactful narrative that resonates deeply with readers.

Citizen by Claudia Rankine is a groundbreaking work that delves into the complexities of race and identity in contemporary America. The book's innovative format, which includes poetry, prose, and visual art, allows Rankine to convey the emotional and psychological impact of racial microaggressions and systemic racism in a way that is both personal and universal. The narrative is deeply moving and thought-provoking, offering a unique perspective on the everyday experiences of people of color. The book's structure and style make it a standout piece of literature that challenges traditional forms and expectations. Overall, Citizen is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the nuances of race and identity in today's society.


Quick quotes

    The white woman who said, 'I didn't know Black women could get cancer

    It has taken me a while to train myself to speak out.

    The book's blend of poetry, prose, and visual art creates a unique and impactful narrative.

lareviewofbooks.org · Unknown · 2016-01-06
profound 4.50

Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine is a critically acclaimed book about race, racial identity, and the intersection of societal issues with individual experiences. The book is praised for its relevance to the #blacklivesmatter movement and its impactful exploration of everyday racism.

Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine is a profound and important work that delves into the complexities of race, racial identity, and the pervasive nature of racism in society. The book is a mixed-media collection that includes verse, prose, essays, photographs, and collages, all of which evoke the daily experiences of individuals affected by racial prejudice. Rankine's work is highly relevant to the #blacklivesmatter movement and has been widely praised for its timely and impactful exploration of systemic racism. The book challenges readers to confront the invisibility and dehumanization of black individuals, highlighting the ongoing struggle for equality and justice. It is a powerful and necessary read that encourages reflection on the ways in which racism manifests in everyday life.


Quick quotes

    because white men can't / police their imagination / black men are dying

    I’ll be honest, I was so wary of saying something offensive, or discussing something in depth about which my opinion is irrelevant and uninformed, that I almost didn’t blog about Citizen.

    and you are not the guy and still you fit the description because there is only one guy who is always the guy fitting the description.