Chapter 6 Flashcards
What is the main message of Chapter 6, “The Measure of Humanity”?
Wilkerson argues that race is an arbitrary, socially constructed concept with no biological basis, created to uphold caste hierarchies. She uses a thought experiment comparing tall and short people to expose the absurdity of using physical traits to determine human value. The chapter distinguishes between racism and casteism and emphasizes caste as the deeper, more enduring system beneath race.
Why does Wilkerson use a thought experiment comparing tall and short people?
To show how arbitrary it is to rank human worth based on inherited physical traits like height or skin color. It highlights how any visible characteristic could be used to justify social hierarchy if culturally enforced.
How does Wilkerson explain that race is a man-made invention?
She notes that race was developed during the transatlantic slave trade, lacks biological basis, and is instead a product of social meaning applied to superficial traits like skin color and facial features.
What did the Human Genome Project reveal about race?
All humans are 99.9% genetically the same. Race is not a scientific reality but a social concept invented to justify hierarchy and exploitation.
Where does the term “Caucasian” come from?
It was coined by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach in 1795 based on a skull he thought was beautiful from the Caucasus Mountains—not a scientific classification, but a subjective and arbitrary one.
What’s the difference between racism and casteism, according to Wilkerson?
Racism is about actions, bias, or prejudice based on race.
Casteism is about maintaining the hierarchy—ensuring people stay in their assigned place regardless of overt racial hatred.
Can someone be casteist without being racist?
Yes. A person can support or maintain social hierarchy unconsciously, even if they don’t harbor personal racial hatred. Casteism is often systemic and subtle.
What are examples Wilkerson gives of caste-based assumptions in everyday life?
Assuming a Black or brown shopper works in the store
Asking a person of color at a party to serve drinks
Assuming someone is “out of place” in a high-status role or location
Why is the word “racism” problematic in today’s discourse, according to Wilkerson?
It has become a loaded, moral accusation, often denied or deflected. The fixation on individual racists obscures systemic issues and lets the larger caste structure remain unchallenged.
How does Wilkerson describe caste’s role in society?
Caste is the deep structure behind visible racism. It’s like a societal operating system that shapes behavior, expectations, and access to resources, often without conscious awareness.
How are people conditioned to uphold caste even if unintentionally?
Through lifelong exposure to stereotypes and role expectations, which get internalized and acted upon automatically—even by people who consider themselves unbiased.
Why does Wilkerson argue that addressing race alone is insufficient?
Because race is the surface-level agent of the deeper system of caste. To dismantle inequality, we have to examine and confront the structure of caste that enforces social rankings.
