3.5 stars. Wilkerson makes an extremely convincing argument that the U.S. does indeed have a caste system. While her argument is an interesting read, I’m not sure how much it adds to the discussion of structural racism. I suppose that framing it as a caste system may make it easier for some readers to understand why caste distinctions are so internalized, even among those who are most disadvantaged by them, and how much work we all must do to overcome our own caste-based unconscious bias. It also explains why just being “not racist,” as a dominant-caste individual, is not enough to reverse the insidious effects of the caste systems as a whole. Overall, I would recommend it to people going deep into the world of anti-racist reads, even if I don’t think it’s the most important book in this subject area.