The Diane Rehm Book Club: "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents," by Isabel Wilkerson

For the April meeting of The Diane Rehm Book Club, Diane and guests discuss “"Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents," by Isabel Wilkerson.
She is joined by Kenneth Mack, professor of law and affiliate professor of history at Harvard University and author of "Representing the Race: The Creation of the Civil Rights Lawyer"; Suraj Yengde, author of the "Caste Matters" and co-editor of the anthology "The Radical in Ambedkar" and a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School; and Dwight Garner, book critic for The New York Times.

[@lifehack3172]

suraj yengde is the scholar we needed in our community for representation of oppressed people of india. He is true follower of babasaheb ambedkar 🙏 jay bhim 🙏

[@MrAbhiabhi7]

I think Suraj makes an excellent point in stating that most Indians that move to the USA are almost trained in practicing the "whiteness" vis a vis position & powerplay of privilege. It was apparent from the lack of response to BLM, or Treating POC and fellow Asians differentially based on their appearances when White people are not subjected to such scrutiny and in fact, get preferential treatment. The same Indians who want to be included in racial discussions and accorded victimhood are culpable in casteist behavior, direct or indirect discrimination and subjugation of the lower caste. I think many Indians are well versed in appropriating the lower caste status to racially exploited peoples and thus further the discrimination. This may not always be explicit or conscious, but it is there.

[@sharmishtaa]

but what is dominant caste--- someone pls be responsible when importing concepts-- wth is dominant caste, why does he fear calling out brahmins, that's such a shame. seen more rad brahmins who call out their own people and here is a brother who is scared to call spade a spade that's sad and academically speaking incorrect.

[@user-dr2zz7ed6x]

@@sharmishtaa , Modi and president of india are dalit Jai bhim

[@sharmishtaa]

brother Suraj is absolutely right on centering india!

[@mehroseemehrosee3887]

@@user-dr2zz7ed6x modi is Dalit?

[@mehroseemehrosee3887]

@@user-dr2zz7ed6x which caste is modi from?

[@mehroseemehrosee3887]

@@user-dr2zz7ed6x teli isn’t Dalit, teli’s are at the top amongst obc’s.

[@alok9307]

@@user-dr2zz7ed6x asshole tell is in baniya! Another dominant caste! And we dalit don't need a tokenized president who don't care what happens with us who is puppet of brahminical party!

[@sharmishtaa]

Diane would expect you to bring Wilkerson into a discussion with Indian Dalit scholars/black scholars and not an upper caste brahmin woman who has been bullying, extracting and gatekeeping Dalit scholars back in India. Do better with your choices or you are doing exactly what white media does center and aid white women/feminists. This is so awful. Go back upper-caste scholars shame on you all for such dead conscience esp when you call yourself women and feminists!

[@sharmishtaa]

prof kenneth mack does full justice to wilkerson's work while being critical in pointing out the recirculation of the ideas from 20th century-- but whats really more important to confront is how economic systems and analysis fail to explain the hate, prejudice, and violence those at the bottom must endure. how does one explain why black women are hated, despised, and treated even when they hugely successful Wilkerson's humiliation in first class of an airline?

[@marcialythcott5532]

Wilkerson’s rich work is original and researched.

[@sharmishtaa]

@@marcialythcott5532 it is thoroughly researched but original? she is building on the work undertaken by sociologist but she relinks it to the place of lowest of the low, Dalits and that in itself is very remarkable.

[@marcialythcott5532]

@@sharmishtaa your response is confusing.

[@user-dr2zz7ed6x]

@@marcialythcott5532 , Modi and president of India are dalit . Jai bhim

[@user-dr2zz7ed6x]

Christian Propaganda on high ... Modi and president of india are dalits First Make Indian , Women or Black As pope ... 😊 Ambedkar Was Buddhist ... jai bhim

[@user-dr2zz7ed6x]

Modi and President of India are Dalits 😂

[@marcialythcott5532]

I know that they are Dalits. And?