Summary of Caste

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson is a sweeping and powerful examination of the idea of caste in the United States and its effect on American life. Drawing on extensive research and interviews with a wide range of people, Wilkerson examines the history of caste and its role in shaping American society. She argues that the United States is a caste society, with its own hierarchy of racial and social categories and attendant prejudice and discrimination. Wilkerson looks at the ways in which the legacy of slavery and the racial caste system has been woven into the fabric of American life and examines the impact this has had on the lives of African Americans and other people of color. She also explores how the caste system has been used to divide and oppress people, and how it has been used to create and maintain power imbalances. The book offers an insightful and thought-provoking exploration of the history, present, and future of race and racism in America.