First Day Diagnostic Spring 2021 Division Of Applied Undergr ✓ Solved

First Day Diagnostic Spring 2021 Division of Applied Undergrad

You will have one and a half hours for the diagnostic. After reading the excerpt from Isabel Wilkerson’s book Caste carefully, write an essay in which you state the topic of the text you've just read, summarize the author’s main idea, identify and assess the evidence used to support it, and then construct your own idea in response to the author's position, supporting your thinking with evidence from your observation, reading, or first-hand experience. I'm looking for about 5 paragraphs in terms of length, but feel free to write more.

We in the developed world are like homeowners who inherited a house on a piece of land that is beautiful on the outside, but whose soil is unstable loam and rock, heaving and contracting over generations, cracks patched but the deeper ruptures waved away for decades, centuries even. Many people may rightly say, “I had nothing to do with how this all started. I have nothing to do with the sins of the past. My ancestors never attacked indigenous people, never owned slaves.” And, yes. Not one of us was here when this house was built.

Our immediate ancestors may have had nothing to do with it, but here we are, the current occupants of a property with stress cracks and bowed walls and fissures built into the foundation. We are the heirs to whatever is right or wrong with it. We did not erect the uneven pillars or joists, but they are ours to deal with now. And any further deterioration is, in fact, on our hands. Unaddressed, the ruptures and diagonal cracks will not fix themselves.

The toxins will not go away but, rather, will spread, leach, and mutate, as they already have. When people live in an old house, they come to adjust to the idiosyncrasies and outright dangers skulking in an old structure. They put buckets under a wet ceiling, prop up groaning floors, learn to step over that rotting wood tread in the staircase. The awkward becomes acceptable, and the unacceptable becomes merely inconvenient. Live with it long enough, and the unthinkable becomes normal.

Exposed over the generations, we learn to believe that the incomprehensible is the way that life is supposed to be. Like other old houses, America has an unseen skeleton, a caste system that is as central to its operation as are the studs and joists that we cannot see in the physical buildings we call home. Caste is the infrastructure of our divisions. It is the architecture of human hierarchy, the subconscious code of instructions for maintaining, in our case, a four-hundred-year-old social order.

Paper For Above Instructions

In Isabel Wilkerson’s excerpt from her book "Caste," the author elucidates the concept of a caste system as a pervasive force within society, particularly within the United States. The topic presented in the text revolves around the hidden, yet deeply entrenched, systems of hierarchy and discrimination that persist through generations. Wilkerson posits that these structural inequalities are akin to the physical defects of an old house, passed down over time, creating an environment where discomfort and injustice become normalized.

Wilkerson's main idea is that a caste system, unlike a class system which allows for social mobility, imposes fixed hierarchies that dictate individuals' worth based on ancestry and perceived racial superiority. She presents a compelling analogy comparing society to a decrepit house, suggesting that while the inhabitants may claim ignorance of the past, they are still the beneficiaries of its structural flaws. These analogies serve to remind readers that they bear responsibility for confronting and remedying the longstanding inequities that define modern social relations.

The evidence Wilkerson utilizes is multifaceted, drawing historical parallels with other racial caste systems globally, including Nazi Germany and the rigid social stratifications present in India. This comparative approach highlights the universality of caste as a mechanism of oppression, demonstrating how the U.S. social order is symptomatic of a much larger, global issue. Furthermore, the language she employs effectively evokes a visceral response from the reader, emphasizing both the urgency and necessity of addressing these systemic injustices.

However, to assess the author’s argument critically, one might consider whether she sufficiently addresses the complexities of intersectionality in the experience of caste and race. While Wilkerson eloquently articulates power dynamics, the role of gender, economic status, and other forms of identity also shapes individual experiences within these hierarchical frameworks. Thus, while her argument is fundamentally sound, there remains an opportunity to expand on these dimensions to foster a more comprehensive understanding of systemic inequality.

In response to Wilkerson's assertions, it is essential to propose a reflective synthesis rooted in both personal observation and scholarly research. As an individual inhabiting a complex society, I have observed how caste affects everyday interactions and opportunities. For instance, in educational settings, disparities in resources frequently reflect caste-based divisions, affecting students' academic achievements and future prospects. One study conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics reveals that schools in predominantly minority neighborhoods often receive significantly less funding than those in areas with predominantly white populations (U.S. Department of Education, 2020). This finding correlates with Wilkerson's assertion that social standing, linked to race and caste, dictates access to vital resources.

Moreover, it is crucial to recognize the potential for grassroots initiatives to challenge these entrenched systems. Local community organizations focused on equitable education, housing, and employment opportunities provide pathways for resilient change. Initiatives such as restorative justice programs and community engagement efforts exemplify how collective action can dismantle the normalized injustices embedded within our societal structures, echoing Wilkerson's call to actively address the foundational issues we inherit.

In conclusion, Wilkerson’s "Caste" invites readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the fabric of society and our roles within it. The essay underscores the importance of recognizing structural inequalities and advocating for change, thus fostering understanding and progress against the backdrop of a caste system. By invoking historical context and personal experience, Wilkerson effectively wields her narrative to inspire a collective sense of responsibility, urging us to acknowledge and repair the cracks within our societal foundation.

References

• Wilkerson, I. (2020). Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. Random House.
• U.S. Department of Education. (2020). National Center for Education Statistics. The Condition of Education 2020.
• Alexander, M. (2010). The New Jim Crow: Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness. The New Press.
• Crenshaw, K. (1989). Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex: A black feminist critique of feminist theory and antiracist politics. University of Chicago Legal Forum.
• Kendi, I. X. (2019). How to be an antiracist. One World.
• DiAngelo, R. (2018). White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism. Beacon Press.
• Hook, B. (2007). Killing Rage: Ending Racism. Random House.
• Coates, T. N. (2015). Between the World and Me. Spiegel & Grau.
• Omi, M., & Winant, H. (2014). Racial Formation in the United States. Routledge.
• Bonilla-Silva, E. (2017). Racism Without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America. Rowman & Littlefield.