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Summary of Caste 

4.8 . 41838 reviews

Short summary

For many years, humans have experienced racism in many forms and within many systems. “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents” focuses on how Americans began assigning meaning to physical characteristics and how this pyramid passes down through centuries. It also addresses how people’s perceptions of others influence politics, policies, and personal interactions. “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents” was selected by Oprah’s Book Club in 2020 and is written by Isabel Wilkerson — New York Times best-selling author, winner of a Pulitzer Prize, and the National Humanities Medal. Wilkerson has taught at Princeton, Emory, and Boston universities and has lectured at many universities across the world. “With our current ruptures, it is not enough to not be racist or sexist. Our times call for being pro-African-American, pro-woman, pro-Latino, pro-Asian, pro-indigenous, pro-humanity in all its manifestations.” ~ Isabel Wilkerson

Table of content

  • Summary of Caste
  • About the author
  • What is Caste about?
  • Who should read Caste
  • Topics in Caste
first key point

Change occurs when people are ready to look beneath history and discover hidden truths

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A caste system is a fixed ranking of human value that sets the presumed supremacy of one group against other groups’ supposed inferiority. It uses strict boundaries to keep the ranked groups apart, distinct from one another, and in their assigned places.

Throughout human history, 3 caste systems have stood out: the caste system of Nazi Germany, India’s caste system, and the caste system in America. Every caste system stigmatized those who they thought to be inferior.
No one escapes exposure to its message that one set of people is presumed to be inherently smarter, more capable, and more deserving than other groups deemed lower. ~ Isabel Wilkerson
The hierarchy of caste is about power — which groups have it and which do not. It is also about which caste is seen as worthy of having the available resources and which isn't. The hierarchy of caste is about respect and who authority should belong to. In the American caste system, a person’s race is the first signal of their rank, humans’ division based on their appearance.
A caste system thrives on ascribing life-and-death meaning to neutral traits so that they favor dominant caste members.
Everyone deserves to be free of a caste system and related tools of segregation, but first, we must understand history. A firm knowledge of how the caste system has progressed over the years gives us a complete picture of its reality. Keep reading to understand better the reasons behind the American caste system and how we can come together to rise above it.
second key point

The caste system has spanned centuries because of the benefits it affords many dominant groups

In 1619, the first Africans arrived at the Virginia colony, and this marked the beginning of the American caste system. As time passed, English and Irish servants were granted greater privileges than their African counterparts. The Europeans were seen as the opposite of black people and developed a new identity. Historian Kenneth M. Stampp described the assigning of race as a strong belief in white supremacy. He believed that the caste system only divided people and caused more harm than good.
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third key point

America sunk deeper into racial discrimination and corruption when Donald Trump became president

fourth key point

Although slavery marked the beginning of the caste system, powerful activists worked hard to eliminate it

fifth key point

Whether it’s racism or casteism, oppression of any group of people only leads to negative consequences

sixth key point

The caste system is supported by principles that have ensured its survival through all this time

seventh key point

Members of any dominant caste can also be gravely affected by slavery and related issues

eighth key point

If people want to live longer, then it is important that everyone fights hard against social injustice

ninth key point

America pays a huge price for the caste system, and it will keep rising if nothing is done about it

tenth key point

Conclusion

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