Summary

In Chapter 4, Wilkerson compares society to a theatrical drama, where caste dictates what roles we play and people are punished and discouraged to stray from their role.

She describes the origins of America’s caste, which predate the nation. At first, religion was the signifier of caste, Christians being the dominant caste. Christian European settlers created the hierarchy to justify atrocities against the indigenous people of America and African captives. When Africans began converting, they changed the signifier to race.

While America was portrayed as an egalitarian democracy, slavery was integral to the creation of America and its economy. Slavery turned people into currency for the profits of the enslavers, who brutalized, branded, raped, and tortured those they enslaved.

After slavery was abolished, laws were established to maintain black people’s position as the inferior caste such by regulating all aspects of life...