Scan barcode
tarines316's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Wilkerson provides an in depth analysis of America’s caste system and the history that has lead us to where we are. She uses personal stories and specific examples to illustrate the elements of caste.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Violence, Hate crime, Racism, Murder, Slavery, and Classism
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Death of parent
dianapiskor's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
Wow wow wow did I learn a great deal in this book. I think this is a must read for any individual, especially for those living in what is a caste system in America. Poignant, well researched, and well written, this book was difficult, but important, to read, as it lays out it's argument that in the United States, not all are born free and have never been so, even since the beginning of this nation's founding.
This novel argues that we have a caste system in the United States and that African Americans are at the bottom of this caste. Through exclusion, violence, and other strategic means, the United States has created a system where those at the bottom MUST stay at the bottom of a caste hierarchy or face the consequences. This is engrained in every facet of American life and has been done so in order to disenfranchise African Americans and to keep them in their caste.
This book was enlightening, if not horrifying. The author lays out EVERYTHING the United States has done in order to subjugate African Americans and the extent to which individuals have done so is disgusting and terrifying. This is not an easy read. It is uncomfortable for those who are not aware of the deep history of this subjugation. But it is necessary to understand, to relate, and to see the effects of caste within our current events and the current day.
This is an absolute must read, especially as the United States continues to see the issues of caste within the news, politics, and society. If you thought that these issues faced by Black individuals was a thing of the past, buckle up, because one cannot escape the past when it is woven into the present. However, please be aware of triggers, as part of this book can be upsetting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Medical content, Colonisation, Genocide, Death, Sexual assault, Antisemitism, and Hate crime
hmbrokaw's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
4.0
A phenomenal look at what exactly caste is. Any yt person interested in anti-racism work should read this. It’s heavy and hard to read, but in all the ways it should be when reading about the oppression of billions. Don’t expect to feel good about yourself- expect to learn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Genocide, Racism, Racial slurs, Slavery, and Death
choicepotatoes_oldold's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
4.75
TL;DR - 4.75 stars - highly, highly recommend
---
Three things I'm still thinking about after reading this book:
» There are no Black people outside of America
» Germany looked to America for inspiration when creating their caste system during the Third Reich.
» Many of the health problems associated with Black folks in America (high blood pressure, etc) are not problems associated with folks in Africa. The stress of being Black in America has a physical cost, and middle- and upper-class Black women are particularly impacted.
As well as the audiobook was narrated, I'm fairly certain I'll have to read it again--as a physical book--to more fully digest the contents.
---
Three things I'm still thinking about after reading this book:
» There are no Black people outside of America
» Germany looked to America for inspiration when creating their caste system during the Third Reich.
» Many of the health problems associated with Black folks in America (high blood pressure, etc) are not problems associated with folks in Africa. The stress of being Black in America has a physical cost, and middle- and upper-class Black women are particularly impacted.
As well as the audiobook was narrated, I'm fairly certain I'll have to read it again--as a physical book--to more fully digest the contents.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Antisemitism, and Racism
lpfoley's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
A really brilliant take on the history of what it means to be Black in America and the social constructs that create and perpetuate oppression. Accessible, thorough, and inviting, Wilkerson walks the line between calling out the behaviors and attitudes that have created what she designated as a caste system in the US as well as discussing the broader pressures at work to sustain it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Genocide, Violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Medical trauma, and Hate crime
kemrick19's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Slavery, Racism, Hate crime, Police brutality, Antisemitism, and Classism
Moderate: Death of parent and Colonisation
jillgoober's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
4.5
In this non-fiction book, Isabel Wilkerson explores the idea that the United States has a caste system based on race, but most people would rather not acknowledge or believe that. She compares our country to the caste system in India as well as Nazi Germany. Some of these comparisons might seem far-fetched without context, but after reading this book, I've realized that it's actually frightening how similar some of our practices are.
To me, the most impactful part of this book discussed the consequences of caste. The rampant racism in our country negatively affects black people's lives in more ways than you would immediately think. For example, the everyday stress causes the life expectancy for African Americans to be lower than that of white Americans. This is not true of black people in other first world countries. Caste also negatively affects everyone involved. White people will turn down things like universal health insurance just so black people can't have it. It's almost childish, honestly.
Overall, this is a great book to read if you need a wake up call about how prevalent and embedded racism is in America. This isn't dense or difficult to read and the data and facts are interspersed with stories as well.
To me, the most impactful part of this book discussed the consequences of caste. The rampant racism in our country negatively affects black people's lives in more ways than you would immediately think. For example, the everyday stress causes the life expectancy for African Americans to be lower than that of white Americans. This is not true of black people in other first world countries. Caste also negatively affects everyone involved. White people will turn down things like universal health insurance just so black people can't have it. It's almost childish, honestly.
Overall, this is a great book to read if you need a wake up call about how prevalent and embedded racism is in America. This isn't dense or difficult to read and the data and facts are interspersed with stories as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Racism
victoriarose12's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Addiction and Murder
torturedreadersdept's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, Misogyny, Deportation, Antisemitism, Child death, Police brutality, Slavery, and Xenophobia
mikaelaandherbooks's review against another edition
There are so many great points made and historical events/facts shared that I did not know before; I just don’t think historical nonfic is for me. I couldn’t keep up with it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Slavery