America is an old house.
-- Wilkerson (chapter 2 paragraph 2)

Importance: Wilkerson here creates a metaphor comparing America to an old house with issues in its structure and foundation. Wilkerson calls caste the skeleton of the house which causes problems. She uses this metaphor to say that while modern Americans did not build the caste system, it is their responsibility to fix the issues, just as the current occupants of an old house they did not build still have to do repairs.

Its invisibility is what gives it power and longevity.
-- Wilkerson (chapter 6 paragraph 3)

Importance: Here, Wilkerson notes that although caste is unseen, it is extremely significant. Its invisibility does not discredit its existence, but rather is what makes it hard to address, and thus hard to change. Caste’s invisibility prevents its hierarchy from being altered, which keeps the dominant caste holding power and keeps the subordinate caste powerless.

The one drop rule was too harsh for the Nazis...
-- Wilkerson (chapter 8 paragraph 2)