Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents

by Isabel Wilkerson

The hierarchy of caste is not about feelings or morality. It is about power—which groups have it and which do not. It is about resources—which caste is seen as worthy of them and which are not, who gets to acquire and control them and who does not. It is about respect, authority, and assumptions of competence—who is accorded these and who is not.

As with the previous definition, this passage came to me after years of observation, research and contemplation. Amazingly enough, these passages were first written on a Blackberry that I carried around with me for much of the time I was working on this book. I was constantly breaking it out to record an observation, unimpeded by location or available light, whenever a moment of clarity or inspiration struck.