Piece Comment

Review of Race and Heritage in America


This exploration of race and heritage in America is an interesting one. Annie uses her own experience as a jumping off platform from which to touch on issues such as ethnocentrism in the face of diversity. She interlaces personal examples with wider, social ones, a balance that makes it easier for the listener to find common ground with the content. However, I found myself wanting to hear more detailed personal anecdotes.
There are lots of good insights in this piece, tucked away inside long sentences. They are easy to miss in the first listen; they often become more apparent on the second and third listens. In order for the nuggets of this piece to be more obvious, shorter sentences and maybe a slightly softer music selection would highlight the most important parts.
That said, Annie’s voicing is clear and soothing, successful in expressing her thoughtfulness.
This is a piece that would be great as an opener for a program focusing on race, and more specifically heritage.
Given that issues of race and heritage are as vast as an ocean, this is a good attempt at diving into the complicated world of race and culture.