Keira Crocker

Professor Matheson

English 112L

09 April 2019

Literary Analysis Essay Outline

Introduction:

This paper will apply an analysis of Critical Race Theory. Within this paper there will be

an analytical review on the in-class assigned book Citizen. Claudia Rankine’s Citizen was one of

the most profounding works and pieces of literature used in this class; not only did the work

show personal reflections, but an outward look from what is happening in society today. This

book in its entirety was a story that showed and explained Rankine as an activist. Critical Race

Theory has three insights, that Claudia Rankine used within her work with publishing this book.

The first insight shows the critical legal study that she takes upon with the African American

victim instead of the polices side with many different pieces of poetry. The second insight was

the feminist study of the relationship between power and the construction of social roles. The last

insight is the civil rights movement study with correcting the wrong in history.

Body:

I.Critical legal studies; idea is that not every legal case has one correct outcome.

 The boys in the store buying clothes with the sirens and lights in the

background. (situation 6)

 Pages 134 and 135 “In memory…, because white men can’t police their imagination,

black people are dying.”

 II. Feminist movement; the relationship between power and the construction of social roles

also the invisible collection of patterns and habits that make up patriarchy and other types

of domination.

 Page 34 direct quote from Patricia Williams in the Alchemy of Race and Rights.

 Section 2 dealing with Venus and Serena; pages 23-37

III. Civil rights movement; idea to redress historical wrongs.

 The conclusion of the book

Conclusion:

The book in its entirety is an overarching story that Claudia Rankine is trying to paint.

This book more like story is where Claudia Rankine had all of her freedom to demonstrate what

she sees happening in America. Even though some of the stories aren’t intimately her own, she

shows her connection to all of them. Her stance on what is happening with the justice system, her

feelings toward social construction, and her overall objective to redress America’s

history/present way of things.