Chapter 2 Flashcards
What is the main message or summary of Chapter 2, “An Old House and an Infrared Light”?
The chapter uses the metaphor of an old house to illustrate the idea that America’s caste system is a deeply embedded structural issue, not just a matter of individual prejudice. Like a homeowner must examine and repair a deteriorating foundation, society must face and fix the hidden but foundational injustices of caste. Ignoring them ensures they fester and worsen.
How does Wilkerson use the metaphor of an old house in this chapter?
She compares America to an old house with foundational damage. Like homeowners who inherit a house, we inherit societal flaws we didn’t create—but are responsible for addressing. Left unexamined, these flaws grow worse.
What does the infrared light symbolize in the chapter?
The infrared light symbolizes the tools and effort needed to reveal hidden structural issues—like the caste system—that are not visible on the surface but crucial to confront and fix.
What is meant by “Caste is the bones, race the skin”?
Race is the visible signal (skin color, appearance), but caste is the embedded system that assigns value and hierarchy to those signals. Race changes over time; caste remains a rigid framework.
How does the caste system influence individuals, often unconsciously?
Caste creates an internal ranking system within us—like grammar in language—that affects how we perceive and treat others, often without realizing it.
According to Wilkerson, how should people respond to injustices they didn’t create?
Even if we didn’t build the caste system, we live in its structure now and are responsible for addressing its ongoing damage. Ignoring it means allowing it to continue.
