An Unexpected Battle Over Banning Caste Discrimination

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 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.

Guest: 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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