A system of social hierarchy that originated in India centuries ago could soon be outlawed in California.
An Unexpected Battle Over Banning Caste Discrimination
Sept. 25, 2023, 6:03 a.m. ET (NYTimes.com)
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Produced by Asthaa Chaturvedi and Stella Tan
With Diana Nguyen and Shannon Lin
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California is poised to become the first state to outlaw discrimination based on a person’s caste. The system of social stratification, which dates back thousands of years, has been outlawed in India and Nepal for decades.
Amy Qin, a correspondent who covers Asian American communities for The Times, explains why so many believe that a prejudice that originated on the other side of the globe now requires legal protection in the U.S. — and why so many are equally convinced that it would be a bad idea.
On today’s episode
Amy Qin, a national correspondent covering Asian American communities for The New York Times.
Background reading
- The bill, recently passed by the California State Legislature, has led to intense debate among South Asian immigrants.
- Meena Kotwal, a Dalit journalist, started a news outlet focused on marginalized groups in India, hoping that telling their stories would help improve their lives.
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Amy Qin contributed reporting.
Fact-checking by Susan Lee.
Special thanks to Aisha Khan.
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