Claudia Rankine begins her novel, Citizen: An American Lyric, utilizing the unique form of second person narrative, which is not only a very distinct way to commence her novel, but it also a quite difficult narrative to follow through with. Second person narrative employs the use of the word “You” which brings into the essence a sense of personalism, that makes the reader almost feel as if this novel is a note for just them. Not only is Rankines writing unique in that sense, but she also deploys images through the novel juxtaposed next to certain chapters. Within the first couple of pages a picture of a normal street is placed, that looks like a normal middle class neighborhood followed behind white colored houses, with a street sign labeled as Jim Crow in the front and center of this photo. Many readers might see this and think nothing of the sort, just a simple normal neighborhood. However under an analytical scope it becomes quite clear that the name of this street sign serves a deeper purpose that can be compared to one that depicted in the Invisible Man, during the scene where optic white paint is introduced. The author mentions that this paint is so vivid and opaque, you could paint a piece of coal black, and you would be unable to know if it was even coal unless you would break it in half. This can be used as an analogy for contemporary America, where the upbringing of the mistreatment of People of color is usually white washed by America’s use of deep systemic nationalism and white washing. The picture depicted appears to be as normal and mundane as ever, which almost causes the reader to forget that the street sign itself is there to serve as a reminder to the vicious Jim Crow laws that were once set in place, and ruined the lives for millions of people of color living in America at the time. The subtle placement of this picture is a current reminder that we continue to forget of the hardships they have went through as it is buried deep into our society, hoping that the masses one day forget.
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