Caste (Oprah's Book Club): The or Igins of Our Discontents (Hardcover)

Staff Reviews

"In The Origins of Our Discontent, Wilkerson has given us a well- researched history of the caste system in three countries: India, Nazi Germany, and the United States.  The caste system in India is almost impossible to escape if you live in India; no one changes or moves out of the caste into which they were born, if you are in a low caste there is almost no hope for you to make a better life unless you can escape from India. Nazi Germany based much of their philosophy on what they learned from the US on how to keep African Americans inferior. They then applied it to their situation. This is horrifying! 

In the United States where we continually talk, write, and protest about race our problems are more than about race. Many of us have placed African Americans in the lowest caste because it automatically makes everyone else in a higher caste which causes multiple problems. One is how to rationalize the success of many people of color. If we follow the caste system (which we do without realizing it) this diminishes others – this is frightening because it diminishes some of us and we feel threatened. If those of color rise in status then who is in the lowest caste?  This is a book everyone should read."