Citizen: A Book for All American Citizens by Finley

Citizen: A Book for All American Citizens by Finley - October 2020 Scholarship Essay

The best book I've read in 2020 has been Citizen by Claudia Rankine, an anti-racist free form poetry book. It had been a required read for my English class this spring, but educated me about racial microaggressions, and opened me up to the genre of anti-racist books, which became increasingly important and popular as the Black Lives Matter movement picked up speed this summer. It was the first book on my anti-racist reading list, and I think everyone could benefit by picking it up as well.
I read the book in one sitting; I couldn't put it down. However, it was a lot to take in. Some pages made me cry, some made me furious-- and I was only reading about microaggressions. I can't imagine actually having to experience the situations described in this book. As a white teenager living in a predominantly white community, I had never witnessed microaggressions or given them any thought. Citizen opened my eyes to an issue I'd been blind to my whole life, and I think it's an essential read for everyone. Everyone needs to know about the experiences of those around them, as well as empathize with them.
The writing style of Rankine addresses this heavy topic in a deeply emotional way. It's all so matter-of-fact that it hits heavy; it made me realize how often people of color have to endure microaggressions. They are still considered "typical" in our society, and I think education and empathizing is necessary to change our ways. I had never heard of microaggressions before picking this up, and I regret not having known about them earlier in my life.
Citizen has been the best book I've read in 2020 because it helped open my eyes right before a revolution this summer, and I strongly believe everyone should pick up this short but powerful read to educate themselves and empathize with viewpoints they might have been blind to thusfar. Citizen is truly a book that should be read by all American citizens, especially now, at a point in time when it's crucial to empathize with the everyday struggles of people of color in order to help fight for change.