Review: Caste - The Origins of our Discontents

In the past year my interest in understanding the problems of race in America have peaked ten fold. Partly because of a sense that I, a black pastor in a position of influence, should be helping people see and understand what the issues are. Also because of the events that gripped the country last year.

I began picking up literature that would help me discern and speak intelligently to the issues at hand. As one might expect, the bookshelves are legion with books on race, especially in the last few months. This, unfortunately, makes it difficult to find the diamonds in the midst of the cubic zirconia.

Nevertheless, after starting and stopping several books, I found the gem.

Caste, by Isabel Wilkerson, is a must read. Indeed, this should be a part of every high school curriculum across the country. Book clubs should read it, churches should use it, coffee shops should feature it during discussion nights. It’s that good, and necessary.

What I love about it is how she helps the reader understand, as the sub-title suggests, the origins of racism. This is important because there are many people who exhibit unconscious racial bias, and they swear that they aren’t racist. They say, “I don’t have a racist bone in my body.”

Well, arguing that they are in fact racist doesn't help. To my knowledge not once has a person said, "Huh... I suppose I am a racist. Thank you for pointing it out to me." Instead arguments ensue, names are called, further brokenness and separation is the result.

In addition to these, such arguments do not even approach the real problem, which is that there is a caste system in America that governs the way people think depending on where they are in the caste hierarchy. It is this caste that has, for hundreds of years, framed what people believe about worth, value, the good life.

Just read the book!

If you only read one book on race this year, read this one (also available on Audible). And if you do read it, I'd love to hear what you think about it.

Also, check out a video I made based on my reflections from this book. Happy New Year!