Former NY Times journalist Isabel Wilkerson discusses her book 'Caste' which explores caste as the root of social divisions. She compares caste systems worldwide, delving into historical contexts in India, Nazi Germany, and America's slavery. The discussion explores the creation of race and caste divisions during colonization, revealing deep historical roots beyond skin color.
Social divisions are rooted in invented caste hierarchies, not just race, as demonstrated by Wilkerson's research.
Race is a visible reflection of the hidden force of caste, shaping societal hierarchies beyond mere skin color.
Deep dives
Impacts of Wilkerson's Research on Understanding Divisions
Isabel Wilkerson's research highlighted in her book 'Cast' challenges the common perception that social divisions are primarily based on race in America. She argues that the root cause is the invented hierarchy of castes, with race being just another manifestation of cast. By examining examples from India, Nazi Germany, and America's history, Wilkerson demonstrates that caste systems are universal. She emphasizes that caste divisions were historically based on tribes, regions, and family lineages rather than skin color, shedding light on the origins and impact of race-based divisions.
Significance of Race as a Social Construct in Cast
Wilkerson's analysis in 'Cast' delves into the social construct of race in the United States, portraying it as a visible representation of the hidden force of caste. She reveals how race was a deliberate creation during colonization to establish a hierarchy based on physical characteristics, separating and ranking individuals. Wilkerson's exploration extends beyond skin color, as seen through examples like the Dalits in India, who were distinguished by last names and occupations. By distinguishing between color as a fact and race as a construct, Wilkerson prompts readers to reconsider their understanding of race and its deep-rooted societal implications.
In 2020, former NY Times journalist Isabel Wilkerson published Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. The book tells a compelling story: that the root of our social divisions is the invented hierarchical structure of castes, not, as we often assume in America, race. Race, she writes, is only another manifestation of caste.
While it’s certainly an important topic here in America, Wilkerson shows, by investigating the longstanding caste system in India, the social divisions in Nazi Germany, and America’s founding and expansion through chattel slavery, that caste is a universal phenomenon.
Derek discusses his thoughts on this powerful and important book.