Some time ago, a book with a peculiar title was recommended to me. Intrigued, I found a copy, and I’m nearly finished with the book Caste, The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. The word that is often associated with the social problems of some far away place or another time such as India or Nazi Germany, (parallels to both are made often throughout the book), few would associate it with today’s America. Yet, this is exactly what Wilkerson skillfully illustrates and captures like a film. With examples from history and modern situations that continually have the reader quietly asking “what would I do in that instance?” Caste is sure to shed light and cause readers to ask several key questions. One is if slavery was abolished, why are the systematic workings that stemmed from it still in use today?
The book is a must read. Awareness, honesty, healthy dialogue are key solutions to any social problem, including the entrapment of caste, One thing I took from the reading is just how programmed we are in this society to think competitively. We are conditioned to view others as either above or beneath ourselves, which takes rethinking to overcome this tendency. Regarding this, one thing I have decided to change personally is to retrain myself in viewing others having more similarities than differences. I change habitual thoughts of “up” or “down” to familiar and lateral-expansion that befits others in a grand design, and not merely a measure, or a race, the continuous pursuit of things and status. I am personally working on refusing the participation of dialogue that invites or perpetuates caste interplay. One of these, which I have commented on before are the comparative/competitive questions that we are all often asked simply throughout life. These questions, born of the habits of hierarchy are to determine where another fits in the caste system, or to remind others of their place. These further perpetuate the cycle and we don’t have to accept or continue them. I am personally opting out of the all too familiar dialogue.
While in a busy commons area during a recent trip, I heard a Reggae song with music and a particular sound that really appealed to me. I asked the person in charge of the music about the song details. {You know who you are. 🙂 Sorry for being annoying. Thank you for being patient and kind}.
Practically demanding, I asked, “Who sings this song?!”
“Not sure.”
“Well, can you search to see who it is? It’s on your playlist.”
Annoyed, yet kind, the person obliged and found the song for me. I added a new song while on my trip. I liked the song so much that I sought it out and bought it when I got home. I soon rediscovered what someone once pointed out to me: Reggae often has happy music but sad lyrics. The upbeat music doesn’t even hint to sadness. But as soon as one catches the lyrics, slavery and the atrocities of 17th century colonialism become apparent. Upon being faced with unexpected sadness, my first reaction was to turn off the song and put it away, even though I liked the music. But this time I endured the sadness of the lyrics. It is quite natural to want to seek out the happy and tend to avoid the negative or what is sad. I don’t believe there is anything inherently wrong with this tendency. In this instance though, I said no to any form of denial. Repeated denial can easily form and lead to habitual thinking.
I still like the music, and I still listen to the song. I may hear it with different ears now, I would call it expanded awareness. To me, this was a token, a moment of a willingness to listen, and to face what was uncomfortable. In my mind, it was a small exercise in hope and awareness. I pause. I take in the sad and honest lyrics, knowing that it is a part of history, and I take it with hope that mistakes can and will be acknowledged and learned from. If humanity were an individual that chose to learn from that historical mistake, how much better off would that humanity be! Mindfulness, awareness, willingness to stop, think, contemplate, act and empathize would go far.
Indeed an intriguing concept, healing the wounds of the past is to heal the present, and improve the nature of things for the future… Mind boggling and fascinating.
At any rate, please join me in reading the book.
Some take home tips:
Be authentic, not competitive.
Be happy for others, knowing that your chance to go for your dreams is on its way.
Focus. Spend time, energy, money (human currency) on what you want. Go for it!
Share some with others throughout your journey.
Thank you for reading,
O
