Diagnosis Race: Troubling Etiologies in Claudia Rankine's American Lyrics

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• African American Studies
• Literary Criticism

Background:

• Persistent health disparities affect African Americans across socioeconomic statuses.
• Public health terms like "John Henryism" and "weathering" describe these disparities.
• Claudia Rankine's work addresses the lived experiences of Black Americans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze Claudia Rankine's representation of "John Henryism" and "weathering" in her literary works.
• To introduce the concept of a "public lyric" genre.
• To examine the impact of racial bias on Black mental and physical health.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Claudia Rankine's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely: An American Lyric" (2004) and "Citizen: An American Lyric" (2014).
• Examination of experimental, multi-media literary techniques.
• Interrogation of public health terminology within a literary context.

Main Results:

• Rankine's collections establish a "public lyric" genre.
• This genre places the "private" injured Black body within the "public" square.
• The analysis reveals the detrimental effects of racial bias on Black health outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Claudia Rankine's "public lyric" exposes the health consequences of systemic racism.
• Her work challenges diagnostic language, uncovering hidden biases.
• The study highlights the intersection of race, health, and artistic expression.