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A review by jillgoober
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
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