WRITTEN REFLECTIONS
CASTE; THE ORIGINS OF OUR DISCONTENTS
Caste; The Origins of Our Discontents, a racially and culturally enlightening novel by Isabel Wilkerson not only describes the interconnectedness of globally marginalized groups, but analyzes how these behaviors are interwoven in the very fabric of human civilization. She bases the entirety of her life’s research and the premise of the expose itself on the concept of caste and its distinction from its counterpart race. While they are most commonly used synonymously, they differ in core principle and enforcement. She states, and I quote, “Caste focuses in on the infrastructure of our divisions and the rankings, whereas race is the metric that’s used to define one’s place in that”. In other words, caste is the systematic ranking of individuals based on perceived superiority, while race refers to the physical characteristics that lay the foundation for these inherently flawed social structures to rest upon. If caste served as the skeletal system of modern society, then race would be the skin that covers the bareness of those bones. After completing the book and absorbing its many themes and societal implications, I found that my own position on caste and race in America was radically changed. Before having read the novel, I had no true understanding of the concept of “race” or its origins. I had fallen under the common misconception that it was rooted in some biological or objective proof. It was only with the guidance of Isabel Wilkerson’s intricately drawn metaphors and complex psychological research that I was able to recognize race as a nationally accepted social construct rather than an innate quality only pertaining to some people. However, the way in which I was somehow inclined to believe this fallacy further validates Wilkerson’s ultimate argument that after years of socially isolating one population of individuals, these racist ideologies have become ingrained in daily life and modern thought processes.
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"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. 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 joints, but they are ours to deal with now.” -Isabel Wilkerson
ARN CHORN POND VISIT
Arn Chorn Pond’ life story as well as the obstacles he faced from an young age was every bit as profound as it was tragic. His mission for the cultural and societal reformation of Cambodia is truly a testament to the strength of character and the amount of love he has for people everywhere. I was completely in awe of the depth of his emotional and spiritual understanding as well as his ability to utilize his experience as a way to benefit those under similar circumstances. I found it particularly struck by his appreciation for America as a country as well as Western influence, a concept he as well as those around him were bred to despise. During his visit, mentioned how great an impact American culture had on daily life and reminisced how he used to “eat hamburgers” and listen to “rock and roll” as a young child. He had never previously associated Western civilization with any form of violence or systemic hatred as it played a huge role in the development of his childhood. With the influx of the Khmer Rouge into once peaceful and harmonious villages, people were forced to develop a strong antagonism for the United States and swear allegiance to these colonists. Capitalism was viewed as a morally and economically corrupt system that encompasses the values of Americans across the nation. Arn’s respect of Western social and cultural norms continued to be challenged, even after his removal from Cambodia when he was placed in the care of his adoptive father. Throughout his highschool years he was brutally ostracized due to his darker complexion and seemingly foreign appearance. He recalled moments during this span of time where living in the jungle with the constant threat of malnutrition and disease were preferable to dehumanizing experience. However, in spite of all of the hate and mass division, Arn was able to retain his humanity and ally with his American counterparts so that they can one day achieve their ultimate goal. The start of a new chapter that works towards complete cultural, spiritual, and philosophical reconciliation and peace for the Cambodian people. Arn’s empowering institution, Cambodian Living Arts, helps unearth ancient traditions, customs, art forms, lifestyles that have either been suppressed due to assimilation or nearly forgotten entirely. Its core goal being to reconnect Cambodian youth with their heritage and ethnicity through the organized teaching of these various arts forms. Not only does it further enrich the lives of these specific individuals, it also provides them with the opportunity to become proficient in the arts and continue to pass this knowledge down from generation to generation. The second aspect of this restoration movement is what is called the Khmer Music Bus that has brought immense joy to children across the country. Arn emphasizes the importance of this invention through his own experience of how music has transformed him as an educator, artist, person, and global citizen. He recognizes how much inner tranquility listening as well as physically playing instruments has brought him and has the desire to share it with those who need it most.
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