: The belief that status is divinely ordained or determined by birth.

: Strictly enforced rules prohibiting marriage or sexual relations between different castes.

: Wilkerson compares America to an old house where structural flaws (caste) remain hidden beneath the surface (race) until we choose to inspect the foundation.

: Some reviewers from platforms like Goodreads found the beginning chapters "flowery" or repetitive in their use of metaphors.

The book is available through major retailers like Amazon.in and Atlantic Books : : Price : ₹1,561 at Amazon.in . Price : ₹1,365 (plus ₹50 delivery) at Atlantic Books .

While widely acclaimed, the book has faced specific critiques from various academic and historical perspectives:

: Narrated by Robin Miles, available at Amazon.in for approximately ₹667.71. Caste: The International Bestseller - Amazon.in

Wilkerson identifies eight "pillars of caste" that underpin hierarchies across civilizations, specifically comparing the United States to the caste systems of India and Nazi Germany: