Oprah’s Book Club

The premiere episode of Oprah’s eight-part conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Isabel Wilkerson on her latest work and Oprah’s Book Club selection, Caste: The Origins of our Discontents. Oprah and Isabel discuss what called her to write Caste, how society needs a new way to talk about racism and why Oprah says Caste is one of the most profound books she’s ever read.

Part three of Oprah’s discussion with Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Isabel Wilkerson and readers of the book, Caste: The Origins of our Discontents. The third episode in the eight-part series focuses on the third pillar of Caste, "Endogamy and the Control of Marriage and Mating." Isabel explores America’s violent history of keeping romantic relationships and family systems within the confines of a given caste as a means of control. We hear questions and an emotional story from a mixed-race couple who faced great adversity when they were married in 1966.

Oprah and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Isabel Wilkerson discuss her newest work and Oprah’s Book Club pick, Caste: The Origins of our Discontents. In episode one of the eight part series, Oprah and Isabel consider the first pillar of Caste as outlined in the book, "Divine Will and the Laws of Nature.” Seventeen readers from all walks of life join in the discussion as Isabel answers questions about how God and religion were used to justify the caste system in the United States.

Part two of Oprah’s discussion with Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Isabel Wilkerson and readers about the book, Caste: The Origins of our Discontents. The second episode in the eight-part series focuses on the second pillar of Caste, “Heritability”; the idea that permanent rank in society is inherited and passed down through ancestry. Special guest Academy Award winning actor Forest Whitaker joins the conversation. Oprah and Isabel respond to questions and comments from readers on the second pillar.

Part four of Oprah’s discussion with Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Isabel Wilkerson and readers of the book, Caste: The Origins of our Discontents. The fourth episode in the eight-part series focuses on the fourth pillar of Caste, “Purity Versus Pollution.” Isabel explains how the caste system keeps groups separate for the protection of the “purity” of the dominant caste against the pollution of the “subordinate” caste. Oprah, Isabel and guests talk about the heartbreaking story of Al Bright, a nine year old Black child who was shamed when barred from sharing a pool with his little league baseball teammates 1951. We’ll hear from one of Al’s best friends who knew him at the time of the incident.