Beyond race, class, or other factors, there is a powerful caste system that influences people's lives and behavior and the nation's fate. Linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, Wilkerson explores eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations, including divine will, bloodlines, stigma, and more. Using riveting stories about people—including Martin Luther King, Jr., baseball's Satchel Paige, a single father and his toddler son, Wilkerson herself, and many others—she shows the ways that the insidious undertow of caste is experienced every day. She documents how the Nazis studied the racial systems in America to plan their outcasting of the Jews; she discusses why the cruel logic of caste requires that there be a bottom rung for those in the middle to measure themselves against; she writes about the surprising health costs of caste, in depression and life expectancy, and the effects of this hierarchy on our culture and politics. Finally, she points forward to ways America can move beyond the artificial and destructive separations of human divisions, toward hope in our common humanity.
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Beyond race, class, or other factors, there is a powerful caste system that influences people's lives and behavior and the nation's fate. Linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, Wilkerson explores eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations, including divine will, bloodlines, stigma, and more. Using riveting stories about people—including Martin Luther King, Jr., baseball's Satchel Paige, a single father and his toddler son, Wilkerson herself, and many others—she shows the ways that the insidious undertow of caste is experienced every day. She documents how the Nazis studied the racial systems in America to plan their outcasting of the Jews; she discusses why the cruel logic of caste requires that there be a bottom rung for those in the middle to measure themselves against; she writes about the surprising health costs of caste, in depression and life expectancy, and the effects of this hierarchy on our culture and politics. Finally, she points forward to ways America can move beyond the artificial and destructive separations of human divisions, toward hope in our common humanity.
Always amuses me when someone criticizes a work for being driven by agenda. Every book has an agenda. That's how the human mind works. If it didn't have agenda it would be very boring and have no point of view.
Strongly agree.
I read The Warmth of Other Suns first, and became interested in following up with her other works bought Caste. After the first 20-30 interesting pages, it became a disappointment, repetitive, and kind of rant-ish.
Thanks for sharing your experience!! Yes, that was exactly the impression I had.
Always amuses me when someone criticizes a work for being driven by agenda. Every book has an agenda. That's how the human mind works. If it didn't have agenda it would be very boring and have no point of view.
Nah, not every book has an agenda. Some have many points of view that are contrary to each other, with no agenda at all, just seeking knowledge and truth. Apparently, I'm in the minority with this thinking as I'm also surprised by your upvotes. I can't stand books with an agenda.
Terrible book. The research is cherry picked and attempts to draw parallels is often tenuous. This book felt so agenda driven.
I have to agree with you as far as the connections that the author tries to make through out the book. I think what the author asserting that all of the experiences that are described in the book have the same root is a disservice to the larger conversations about them.
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from killamator
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Always amuses me when someone criticizes a work for being driven by agenda. Every book has an agenda. That's how the human mind works. If it didn't have agenda it would be very boring and have no point of view.
You should keep in mind this criticism is coming from someone named "Blackshirt."
Call it a dog-whistle if you want but the combo is pretty blatant. For reference, blackshirts were the action squads in Mussolini's Italy.
Nah, not every book has an agenda. Some have many points of view that are contrary to each other, with no agenda at all, just seeking knowledge and truth. Apparently, I'm in the minority with this thinking as I'm also surprised by your upvotes. I can't stand books with an agenda.
having contrary points integrated to a narrative is still an agenda. "seeking knowledge and truth" is an agenda (a rather wishy-washy agenda, since even the most dedicated propagandist often will claim they are seeking knowledge and truth)
As always perception is driven by an outsider who claims to know about other races/people more than they know. I'd highly recommend researching the root of all discontent and conflicts due to the Abrahamic faiths. Why did they obliterate ancient cultures and wisdom?
FYI - HItler's symbol was Hakenkreuz not Swastika. They didn't want to associate evil with the cross, so they used a symbol of peace to symbolize their sins.
I wish race conscious white america wasn't broadly divided into black people simps and racists.
Rare and rarer that something can be seriously critiqued that is tooting its own race horn or not be dismissed by racist idiots or glorified by guilty lib-simps.
I did both my graduate theses on caste and this book would be mocked if everyone wasn't expected to act like a guilty white liberal.
Great if you want journalism majors to handle scholarly material.
I prefer to read books from people who are rigorous not a laugh track with a pencil.
I wish race conscious white america wasn't broadly divided into black people simps and racists.
Rare and rarer that something can be seriously critiqued that is tooting its own race horn or not be dismissed by racist idiots or glorified by guilty lib-simps.
I did both my graduate theses on caste and this book would be mocked if everyone wasn't expected to act like a guilty white liberal.
Great if you want journalism majors to handle scholarly material.
I prefer to read books from people who are rigorous not a laugh track with a pencil.
Ok, sounds like you may actually have some academic background on the topic. What is your problem with this book? Serious question, I haven't read it.
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Call it a dog-whistle if you want but the combo is pretty blatant. For reference, blackshirts were the action squads in Mussolini's Italy.
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I read The Warmth of Other Suns first, and became interested in following up with her other works bought Caste. After the first 20-30 interesting pages, it became a disappointment, repetitive, and kind of rant-ish.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank ElatedAppliance2233
Call it a dog-whistle if you want but the combo is pretty blatant. For reference, blackshirts were the action squads in Mussolini's Italy.
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I guess I can now post deals on The Turner Diaries and Mein Kampf.
FYI - HItler's symbol was Hakenkreuz not Swastika. They didn't want to associate evil with the cross, so they used a symbol of peace to symbolize their sins.
Also, the Chai latte is not Chai. Peace <3
Rare and rarer that something can be seriously critiqued that is tooting its own race horn or not be dismissed by racist idiots or glorified by guilty lib-simps.
I did both my graduate theses on caste and this book would be mocked if everyone wasn't expected to act like a guilty white liberal.
Great if you want journalism majors to handle scholarly material.
I prefer to read books from people who are rigorous not a laugh track with a pencil.
Or don't.
More importantly. Once you make your decision...piss off again.
--SlickDitti
Rare and rarer that something can be seriously critiqued that is tooting its own race horn or not be dismissed by racist idiots or glorified by guilty lib-simps.
I did both my graduate theses on caste and this book would be mocked if everyone wasn't expected to act like a guilty white liberal.
Great if you want journalism majors to handle scholarly material.
I prefer to read books from people who are rigorous not a laugh track with a pencil.