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A review by tanyadillyn
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
5.0
Racism is an important part of our history (and present, and future), but this book positions it as only part of a caste system that we constructed to designate a social hierarchy and ensure oppression. I loved The Warmth of Other Suns and this feels different -- anecdotes to prove theories, rather than stories to illustrate our history -- but still excellent.
There is a lot in here that we know, but the way Wilkerson structures her arguments and examples are especially jarring, like exploring the difference between Americans' honor of Confederate generals (who lost, remember) and Germans' respect and honor for the millions dead in the Holocaust, and the choice to unceremoniously bury, and then pave over, Hitler.
This is another necessary read in our dominant caste's journey to find new ways to speak out and stand in solidarity with everyone who hasn't been afforded the same opportunity. Yeah so read it.
There is a lot in here that we know, but the way Wilkerson structures her arguments and examples are especially jarring, like exploring the difference between Americans' honor of Confederate generals (who lost, remember) and Germans' respect and honor for the millions dead in the Holocaust, and the choice to unceremoniously bury, and then pave over, Hitler.
This is another necessary read in our dominant caste's journey to find new ways to speak out and stand in solidarity with everyone who hasn't been afforded the same opportunity. Yeah so read it.