Numerous African-Americans in the US experience prejudice. The African minorities are not welcome in racists' restaurants, stadiums, buses, or other public areas. The black population cannot enter certain pubs and bars. A few of the workers report being mistreated at work. Coworkers, supervisors, and clients discriminate against the African-American employees on the basis of race. Racism is present in public transportation because white people generally dislike sharing a seat with Black people. African Americans are seen by white people as "dirty black pigs," but the government takes a long time to address such issues. The Citizen: An American Lyrics, written by Rankine Claudia, was inspired by this systemic racism. African Americans experience hardships since the abolition of trade such as racial slurs, racial profiling and stereotyping. In the book, Claudia uses examples of Zinedine Zidane as the case illustrating racism in sports. Another story refers to white and black people in a bus where a white woman is uncomfortable sitting next to an African- American passenger.
In chapter six, Claudio exposes the micro-aggressions faced by African American population. Claudio Rankine in the book Citizen writes "Because white men can’t police their imagination black people are dying" (Rankine 135). The white means that their neighborhoods are a no go zone for the brown and African-American teenagers. The White community chose not to regard African American teenagers as children in the United States (Gates 1). Rather, they decided to resort to name calling; idlers, lazy and criminal. The white juries too are playing a part in perpetuating these inhuman acts. This indicates that Africa American
In the same chapter, Rankine highlights racial issues in the passage Making Room. The author seems to offer a hidden solution to the racism problem. The author points the finger and denunciates the current segregation in the United States and other parts of the world. ‘All the while the darkness allows you to look at him. Does he feel you looking at him? You suspect so. What does suspension mean? What does suspicion do? (Rankine 132) The quotes illustrate the prejudice which is still alive in all place including buses.
It is widely known that the American society comprises of white, black and Latinos. One of the societies is vastly different from the cultural edge. The white and African-American differ even between those with equal wealth and education level (Kellaway 2). The two cultures see same events differently. The white leaders do not analyze situations from different angles and tolerate pervasive racism against African American long enough. There are little signs of condemning prejudice and racism. Some members of the white communities are forthright and sincere in rising against white racism. However, the African -American remains skeptical and suspicious of the efforts initiates by the anti-racist efforts. The white are reluctant in engaging the public in criticizing racism in America.
The author exposed effects of racism at the international level with poems about police brutalism in London and the World Cup Poem. In particular, the poem explores the Zinedine Zidane video at the 2006 World Cup finals and on a racial perspective. In this situation, the author discusses the language that can trigger violence and the implications of such symbolic violence. In 2006, France played against Italy in the World Cup soccer finals in Germany. The French-born Algerian, Zidane had an exceptional tournament in Germany scoring several goals. He was a national hero back in France and was wrapping his soccer career at the end of that World Cup Finals. The French fans used the Black Blanc Beur (meaning a black, white Arab) slogan to refer to Zidane. In the dying minutes of the match, Zinadene Zidane head-butted Marco Materazzi for alleged racial slurs. It is alleged that Marco Materazzi’s insulted Zidane using “Big Algerian shit, dirty terrorist, nigger” (Rankine 126). The incident drew wide discussions in the soccer world, but it was an opportunity for Rankine to discuss racism problem from a thorough understanding.
The images taken in slow motion shows how Materazzi appeared to provoke Zidane who seem to walk away. In a matter of seconds, Zidane turned around, and head butted Materazzi on the chest knocking him to the ground. The violence indicates that violence comes in symbolic, objective and subjective forms. The words and physical abuse have a tremendous effect on the victim. Physical abuse, however, is easily noticeable and 's hard to ignore. Zidane reacted in a manner suggesting provocation from a racial aspect.
Zidane grew up in France as part of minority group thus explains the racism trouble he went through before succeeding in soccer. Zidane grew in rough-streets in Marseille and experienced racial slurs throughout his life. The primary focus shifted to the reaction and not the cause. Zidane admitted to being in the wrong but insisted there would be no reaction without provocation. The incident shows endless struggle to achieve and confirm human identity; human authority comprises of horror which is something wonderful.
Conclusion
The book Citizen focuses on everyday racism experienced by the African-Americans. The poet indicates that racism has profound effects on African-Americans’ self -image thus threatening their lives. There is an ongoing debate about racism, but the racism cases are on the rise. The macro-aggression by the white police has hit news headlines every day in the United States. Rankine uses meditations to illustrate the everyday racial gestures and comments that affect the mental states of many people.
Work Cited
Gates, Henry Louis, Jr., et al. “African American Citizenship.” The Oxford Handbook of African American Citizenship, 1865-Present. Oxford Handbooks Online. Web. Visited 31 July. 2017. 4
Kellaway, Kate. “Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine Review: the Ugly Truth of Racism.” The Guardian, 30 Aug.2014. Web. Visited July 31, 2017.
Rankine, Claudia. Citizen: An American Lyric. London, UK [etc: Penguin Books, 2015. Print.
