Like hundreds of thousands of Americans, I purchased Caste in 2020, and I picked it up last year to finally start reading it. However, I felt my body getting hot the more I read. It was rage. I set it down.
Now after seeing Origin this week I feel compelled to pick it back up.
Origin is a must-see. Full stop. It so powerfully articulated the through-line of what weaves together why things are the way they are in the current world. This even includes the epidemic of gun violence.
The thing is though, the movie and the book are both works I know the majority of people who desperately need to experience them won’t. The fact that even here in Boston, movie-times aren’t widely available is the first tell as well as the glaring Oscar-nomination snub. When the film was over my husband turned to me and declared, “This needs an Oscar!,” to which I let him know it wasn’t even nominated despite being within the cut-off. Ava DuVernay has addressed this in an interview with Today.com:
“When I’m no longer here, I am proud to be able to say I was the author of this film, and that we made this film together,” she continued. “And that looms large for me, and that happens regardless of what else is attached to the film, or what group of people deem it worthy.”
As I’m writing this, I’m listening to Imari Jeffries, President and CEO of Embrace Boston, discuss reparations, and the Harm Report (will come back to link the audio when it’s live). In the interim, the first episode of the podcast What is Owed? just dropped today discussing reparations, which I look forward to listening to.
What does it mean to be made whole?
No matter the joyful moments that are shared, for me, there is always a looming cloud. Whether it be the persistent gun violence, genocide in Gaza (Origin speaks to both - yes, they are connected), climate change, or the impending election, there remains a menacing cloud. Anyone else feel that way?
For now, I’m leaning into off-line activism, creating community, continuing on my health journey, and relishing in my family life.
I cannot stand by and be inactive.
This post isn’t to find solutions, but it is to let you know you’re not alone and to take solace in any thread of peace and joy you are able to find.
If you have read Caste or seen Origin, please let me know in the comments how it resonated with you.
I haven't seen or read either, but got chills watching the preview and immediately added Caste to my Libby requests list. Thank you for sharing.