Exercise Prompt: In response to Claudia Rankine’s Citizen, describe a racial/ethnic microaggression experienced by the speaker and its impact on the self. Make sure to use rich, vivid, sensory detail as Rankine does in her text. Study her words closely. How do words evoke feelings? You are going out with your friends on a Friday night in Los Angeles. You …
Exercise Prompt: In “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” Sedaris explores themes of identity, insecurity, class, and belonging. Describe a moment when you dealt with one or more of these issues. Was there a time or situation that made you feel insecure? Was there a time or situation where you felt you didn’t belong? I have always had my fair share of …
Exercise Prompt: Write a creative scene about your space from the point of view of a person or object different from yourself. Imagine who might be visiting this space and why? How are they different from you in terms of race, class, age, gender, ability, or other factors that might influence their perception of the space? What would their impressions …
Exercise Prompt: Write a series of letters in response to Claudia Rankine’s Citizen, including friends, family members, and those who may have committed microaggressions. Dear (White) Reader, I hope that if you are seeing this, you have come with an open heart and an open mind, that you can look at the words on the page, and get the uncomfortable …
Dear Lady who said I was lucky to get accepted into college only because of my background, I would like to start off by saying you hurt my feelings but now I know I can do anything I set my mind to because I work hard for it and not because people feel bad for me. People like you love …
Exercise Prompt: Describe your space in detail. Make sure you use words that evoke at least 3 of the 5 senses. Choose a clear organizing strategy for your description (see Oregon Writes) such as inside to outside, top to bottom, front to back, or oldest to newest. When entering the space of my home, you will notice the family photos …