Citizen: An American Lyric

Consider how the author approaches the concepts of “citizenship” and “belonging.” According to Rankine, how do people of color in the US feel as if they do not belong? Does citizenship status change this? Why or why not? How does your response from the Personal Connection Prompt relate to Rankine’s understanding of these terms? What are the similarities and differences, if any?

Teaching Suggestion: This Discussion/Analysis Prompt invites students to recontextualize their response from the Personal Connection Prompt to the text. Based on the level of the class, this Prompt may be used as either a take-home writing assignment or an in-class discussion. Some students may believe that their understanding of the terms and Rankine’s closely align and therefore may not feel they have much to discuss or write about; in this situation, you might add an additional layer of analysis by asking students to research and report on the reception of Rankine’s work regarding these concepts. For example, students could consider the following: How do people generally critique or praise Rankine’s commentary on citizenship and belonging?

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.