Citizen

An American Lyric

By: Claudia Rankine

Narrated by: Allyson Johnson

Claudia Rankine's bold new audiobook recounts mounting racial aggressions in ongoing encounters in 21st-century daily life and in the media. Some of these encounters are slights, seeming slips of the tongue, and some are intentional offensives in the classroom, at the supermarket, at home, on the tennis court with Serena Williams and the soccer field with Zinedine Zidane, online, on TV - everywhere, all the time. The cumulative stresses come to bear on a person's ability to speak, perform, and stay alive. Our addressability is tied to the state of our belonging, Rankine argues, as are our assumptions and expectations of citizenship.

©2014 Claudia Rankine (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Combining poetry, essay, and images from media and contemporary art, Rankine's poetics capture the urgency of her subject matter." ( Publishers Weekly)

So. Important.

Listening to this made me angry and uncomfortable, perhaps because, as a white person, it's easy for me to elect to see or acknowledge racism, and this book puts you (literally by use of the second person) at the center of it, as the victim, the witness, the occasional perpetrator. You can't ignore it. To make the reader feel even a fraction of what people of color feel on a daily basis is such a huge accomplishment. Beautiful work.

Very insightful. Affirming. Ended too quickly!

Fascinating style and work. I found myself repeatedly saying, "Yes, I have felt and experienced this, too. I just never knew how to articulate it in a comprehensible way!"

Insightful! Riveting!

A really true reflection of what being black in America is like. Invisible,feared, belittled, not appreciated for who you are! And how we cope!

great book

What made the experience of listening to Citizen the most enjoyable?

Good narrator,

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

It provoked deeper thought

Have you listened to any of Allyson Johnson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

i have no idea

Any additional comments?

I went out and purchased this book after I read it because I heard the way it was written on the page was relevant to reading it. I agree that it was, but I also enjoyed listening to it. However, I have listened to other books that were written to be read off the page and it would be helpful to be forewarned that there are relevant photos involved or it's a graphic novel, etc. Thank you for providing this book.

critical poetry

highly recommend for someone who wants to keep understanding race based experiences and interactions. thought provoking.

Powerfully moving all round.

Reading poetry is often a private experience, the voice we hear is our own; but Johnson nails it. Her performance conveys Rankine's subtle use of language and powerful cultural critique. I loved the section on Serena Williams which made me want to scream, laugh and cry all at once.

“It wasn’t a match, it was a lesson.”

Wow! Rankine’s writing style is perfect for this book. It’s like a stream of consciousness of the Black “professional’s” experience in America. A constant bombardment of racial slights and overt racism that leaves you exhausted, confused and ultimately emotionless.

I can’t say enough about this book other than buy it!

Beautiful and heart wrenching at the same time.

I could not stop listening, even as the beautiful and lyrical way Rankine tells us these painful and real stories. My soul hurt, but as a white woman, I gained a bigger picture of understanding.

Every American Should Read / Listen

This was required reading for my son during his Sophomore year of High School last school year in a private college-prep school in Hawaii. He found it powerful and eye-opening and recommended it to both my husband and me. I read it in one sitting today and found myself wishing this was required reading not just for every high school student, but for every American.

a must read

important writing, beautiful and difficult in its truth and heart. smooth and accurate narration. a must read, always, especially now.