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Caste

the Origins of Our Discontents
Sep 18, 2020dentkn7613 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
As an initial skeptic to the concept of caste, this book surprised me and shone a light on some of my most deeply held assumptions about myself, my own interactions, and my own place within the U.S., even as a middle caste person, about which the book speaks relatively little. Every time I've tried to avoid tanning out of a dislike of looking darker, cheerfully told a stranger my parents' heritage to satisfy his/her curiosity of where I'm "really from," or been surprised about someone presenting a certain way or having a certain kind of job/education/status - I am casteist and have been swimming in a sea of casteism. Admittedly, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents focuses more on theory, persuasive rhetoric, and insightful storytelling than data and practical solutions, which may turn off some people. Yet for me, it's the first explanation that really encompasses why we act and think the way that we do, often subconsciously, in relation to other American castes to preserve our designated rank/place. What a paradigm-shifting game changer.