By Claudia Rankine
Published: 2014
$a You take in things you don't want all the time. The second you hear or see some ordinary movement, all its intended targets, all the meanings behind the retreating sounds, as far as you are able to see, come into focus. Hold up, did you just hear, did you just say, did you just see, did you just do that? Then the voice in your head silently tells you to take your foot off your throat because just getting along shouldn't be an ambition. --from back cover
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Claudia Rankine is an acclaimed poet, essayist, and playwright, known for her innovative exploration of race, identity, and social justice within contemporary society. Born in Jamaica and raised in the United States, Rankine's works reflect a deep engagement with the complexities of personal and collective identity. Her notable works include the award-winning poetry collections 'Citizen: An American Lyric,' which was a finalist for the National Book Award, and 'Don’t Let Me Be Lonely.' Additionally, she is the author of the essay collection 'Just Us: An American Conversation.' Rankine's writing style is characterized by a unique blend of lyricism and prose, often incorporating multimedia elements to challenge the boundaries of traditional literary forms and provoke critical discourse.
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