I have long thought that the racial discrimination found in all parts of the US was a simple tradition of racism based in white supremacy. @IsabelWilkerson has disabused my of my simplistic understanding with #Caste.

The US, like the 3rd Reich and India, is bound by a caste system that predicts more about the specifics of American discrimination than simple racism. Caste explains why low and middle-income White voters seem to vote against their own interests and support the Republican party whose policies benefit the wealthiest people in America. Low and middle income White voters have more to gain through the Republican party's reinforcement of racial hierarchy than they do from their policies as America's demographics shift away from a White majority.

Caste is antithetical to the American myths of individual independence, equity, and opportunity, a fact that those occupying lower castes of American society have always been aware of. Members of upper American castes like myself that maintain egalitarian sentiments would understand more about America if they observed through the caste lens. If you would like a more egalitarian society, you should read Caste: slpl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/5257052980

If we can act, White people will start to choose democracy over supremacy.