Episode 9: Casteism in India vs Racism in the US: a Comparative Approach

On today’s episode, we’re talking about social justice (and injustice) in both India and the United States. The caste system in India has some remarkable similarities to systemic racism in the United States. Here to unpack the historical context and what we can do about it are three guests - Professor Nico Slate from the History Department at Carnegie Mellon University, Professor Amit Thorat from the Centre for the Study of Regional Development in the School of Social Sciences at Jawaharwal Nehru University, and Arko Dasgupta, graduate student at the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University.

Show Notes

Episode Summary:

Continuing conversations in his own research and events such as Annihilation of Caste, Dr. William “Sandy” Darity hosts three guests to compare and contrast Casteism in India, and Racism in the United States. 

Dr. Nico Slate, head of the History Department at the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University, joined by his PhD student Arko Dasgupta and Dr. Amit Thorat of Jawaharlal Nehru University explore the experiences of disadvantaged groups of people in catastrophes throughout history. It is noted that typically, those who have been disadvantaged historically (such as Black Americans in the United States and Dalits and Tribals in India) have fared worse than others. The importance of coming together and forming coalitions is discussed in order to fight against the oppression and exclusion that leads to immense inequality in the world.

In the conversation, the speakers discuss the similarities and differences between casteism and racism. The commentators discuss the relationship between caste and race, and whether or not Wilkerson’s thesis  about the superiority of caste as a concept for understanding intergroup disparities is accurate. They note that both systems are based on beliefs about specific groups of people, and that both systems have resulted in discrimination and violence against those groups. However, they also note that there are some key differences between the two systems.

The conversation touches on the difficulties of marrying across castes, the concept of “purity”, as well as prominent figures in the U.S. civil rights movement and those whom who in protest of the caste system in India. 

For more information on relevant terms and figures mentioned in this episode, we encourage you to visit the reference links below.

Topics/Resources Discussed in this Episode:

• The caste system in India 
• Dalits (Untouchables) and tribals 
• Mahatma Gandhi, fasting and communal roles 
• Mahatma Gandhi and Dalits
• Bhimrao Rami (B.R.) Ambedkar 
• BR Ambedkar’s letter to W.E.B. Du Bois
• Dr. Martin Luter King Jr. visits India 
• Caste by Isabel Wilkerson 
• Wilkerson’s commentary on America’s ‘caste’ system 

Episode transcript:

Full episode transcript can be found here

Voices in Equity is the official podcast of the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University. The Cook Center is named after Samuel DuBois Cook, the first tenured Black professor at Duke University who exemplified the pursuit of social justice and equality. With research focuses including social mobility, education, health, wealth, and policy, the Cook Center aims to develop a deep understanding of the causes and consequences of inequality, and develop remedies for these disparities and their adverse effects. The aim of this podcast is to expand upon the work of the Cook Center through continuing crucial conversations that further our research and programming.

On our first podcast series, we’re focusing on The Pandemic Divide: How COVID Increased Inequality in America. It’s a collaborative book from faculty - many here at Duke - who are committed to shining a light on inequities and truly making a difference.

Voices in Equity is hosted by Maddie Braksick and is produced by Earfluence.

We invite you to check out the new Cook Center website at socialequity.duke.edu to learn more about the Cook center’s research, programming, multimedia, and educational activities. 

What is Voices in Equity?

Voices in Equity is the official podcast of the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University. The Cook Center is named after Samuel DuBois Cook, the first tenured Black professor at Duke University who exemplified the pursuit of social justice and equality. With research focuses including social mobility, education, health, wealth, and policy, the Cook Center aims to develop a deep understanding of the causes and consequences of inequality, and develop remedies for these disparities and their adverse effects.