Rankine cleverly titled the book Citizen to contradict the definition with distinct poems that tell the story of many Americans facing racism and mistreatment. However, the way one can interpret these poems can be different. Some readers may believe that racism is obvious while others may not see it at all. An important factor that distinguishes readers' views on poems is their persona. The people around us such as our parents, siblings, the media, school, teachers and our environment all play a role in influencing our development. .Nalini Ambady, a psychology professor at Stanford University, says that "cultural forces give rise to different patterns of behavior, perception, and cognition." Each individual is entitled to their own way of thinking, however as a child you rely on your parents to help you become who you are. Part of this involves their distinct opinions. Since children do not have the maturity to educate themselves, they need help from their parents, and this is often where the problem arises..