We had a great discussion about Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. One thing we talked about was the difference between racism / white supremacy and caste, which included a discussion of which groups (Asian American, Native American) are left out of the caste system framing. Also, we considered the idea that “untouchables” are not even touched, so no rape. This is very different than the white supremacy system which considered some people “property” and used their bodies in very different ways. Ultimately, while it is helpful to “remove race” and see the people’s behaviors for the horrible acts they are, this book gave us more specific stories and historical examples but not necessarily a new word to describe the system the U.S. was built upon. This is part of the reason Ebony and Ivy came up – the university system was physically built with black and brown bodies. Those (dead) bodies provided cadavers for medical programs, and the white plantation owners paid for chairs, programs, and research to support their ideology that some races were inferior.
Some Examples of Conversation:
- Are we now going to start using caste instead of race/ racism? No, probably not. It’s not going to take root like Kendi’s definition of anti-racism did
- The U.S. “caste” system made a lot of people wealthy
- Whatever you call the “system” it helps to have all the historical examples
- The comparison to Germany and India helps us see the oppression, as well as how we are socialized (it’s not so easy to act like you are in a different castes)
- The comparison between POST Civil War and Holocaust, helps us see how victims were or were not supported and those who oppressed (Nazis and Confederacy) were and were not punished by respective countries.
- Where is the resistance? There was the name (Miss), but examples of resistance was limited.
