The Divide of Citizens
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Everyday, men and women across the United States leave their house not knowing what the day has in store for them. Unlike others, these men and women bear a badge on the left side of their chest. This badge represents each of their respective cities for whom they have sworn to protect and serve. In times of emergency, distress, hopelessness, and despair, the men and woman with a badge on their chest are only a mere 911 phone call away.
Coming from a family of police officers and military, I have the utmost respect and admiration for those who selflessly serve our country. In light of recent occurrences across the country, citizens of the United States have begun to question police and their true intentions. I understand where the doubt may lay regarding our police. Unfortunately, no one is perfect. There are police officers who abuse their powers and do wrong, just like everyone else in the world. However, this issue has been brought to the forefront of protests and newspapers in light of Missouri and New York. The underlying issue of these protests is the racial divide that is ever so relevant in the United States. Over 50 years have passed since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the United States continues the fight between whites and blacks.
The racial divide is illustrated beautifully through Claudia Rankine's Citizen. Rankine's lyrical approach allows the reader to read ordinary situations that spark thoughts about prejudice, ignorance, class division, and racism. For example, on page 12 of Rankine's book is a situation that subtlety, yet powerfully, addresses the prejudice and racism that occurs in daily life. This situation is about a person who has traveled a lot and has earned the spot of the window seat on the airplane. After this person sits down a girl and a mother arrive. The mother tell hers daughter that she will sit in the middle and utters under her breath that these were the seats she was not expecting. Presumably, I assume that the person sitting in the window is black and the mother and daughter are white. While this exert does not address the race of either, one can assume races based on the goals of the book. This situation illustrates the beginning of prejudice. It seems as if the mother doesn't want her daughter "exposed" to the black person sitting in the window and elects to sit their herself. Rankine depicts through this situation that prejudice starts young and is still very present today.
There are several other situations that could have books written about them due to their underlying themes and concepts. I strongly agree with every intention of this book other than one very small passage. On page 135 Rankine writes "Because white men can't police their imaginations, black men are dying." This passage is what inspired me to write this blog. I want to make it very clear that I respect and understand what Rankine's book is about. However, I respectfully and strongly disagree with this passage. This passage is directly pointed at the white police officer, that was not indicted, who shot dead the unarmed black man in Ferguson, Missouri. As noted in the title of this blog, this is where the divide of citizens occurs. It was decided in a court of law that Officer Wilson was not guilty of any wrong doing. This decision was made based on an extraordinary amount of evidence that was examined thoroughly by a jury. Yet, Rankine, and others, continue to encourage this division of citizens through accusations that do not encourage racial understanding and equality. It must be noted that shortly after this decision, two New York Police Officers were shot dead execution style.
I strongly believe that Rankine's passage about police officers contradicts her entire book. However, this is just my opinion. I do believe that Rankine meant for every one of her passages to create emotion, in which they successfully did for me. Therefore, I stand with Rankine and hope that this issue of citizen division will be addressed constantly. The only way for everyone to reach an understanding is to address the problem directly, like her lyrical book, Citizen, accomplishes.
I hope that this blog insights emotion out of everyone who reads it. Whether the emotion is against or for my argument, it will allow us to understand each other and find a common ground to crush the citizen division that is so present today.
Thank you for reading,
Brandon Rominger
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