Stay Tuned with Preet

Revisiting America’s Caste System (with Isabel Wilkerson)

Jul 21, 2022

Isabel Wilkerson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents," dives deep into America's social hierarchy. She explores the distinction between caste and race, drawing unsettling parallels between American racism and Nazi Germany's policies. The conversation emphasizes the importance of radical empathy in addressing systemic oppression and invites listeners to reflect on their own societal roles. Wilkerson's insights urge a collective responsibility for change, highlighting historical contexts and personal narratives.

01:03:50

Episode guests

Isabel Wilkerson

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

1min

Exploring the Dynamics of Caste and Hierarchy

2min

Unraveling Caste: Understanding American Hierarchies

16min

The Dynamics of Discrimination

15min

Exploring Societal Hierarchies and Historical Narratives

3min

Historical Echoes: Nazi Germany's Inspiration from American Racism

4min

Caste, Class, and Collective Change

19min

Concluding Insights and Call to Action

2min

Isabel Wilkerson is a journalist and author who in 1994 became the first African American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize in Journalism. Preet spoke with Wilkerson in August 2020 about her bestselling book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. Wilkerson discussed the difference between caste and race, the ways that Nazi Germany drew inspiration from American racism, and the need for radical empathy as we deal with our own enduring caste system.

*This episode initially aired in full on August 13th, 2020.

For show notes and a transcript of the episode, head to: https://cafe.com/stay-tuned/revisiting-americas-caste-system-with-isabel-wilkerson/

Tweet your questions to @PreetBharara with hashtag #askpreet, email us at staytuned@cafe.com, or call 669-247-7338 to leave a voicemail.

Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

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