Caste Based Discrimination in the United States

WHEREAS, according to the United Nations (UN) "the "Caste" system refers to a strict hierarchical social system often based on notions of purity and contamination. The UN experts' report describes how people from "lower caste" are often limited to certain occupations which are deemed 'polluting' or menial by others, a system inextricably tied to the relegation practices of "class" systems throughout the world and in the United States; and

WHEREAS, the problems relating to "Caste" systems are global problems affecting communities in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Pacific region as well as in various diaspora communities, including in the United States; and

WHEREAS, the UN Special Rapporteur Rita Izsa'k-Ndiaye reported that "cast-based discrimination and it's resulting violence goes against the basic principles of universal human dignity and equality, as it differentiates between 'inferior' and 'superior' categories of individuals which is unacceptable"; and

WHEREAS, the practices of the caste system in the workplace, in hiring, housing, healthcare, business ownership, and other applications is an extension of the practice of discrimination against Africans, South Asians, Middle Easterners, Middle Easterners, women and others both in their home countries as well as other countries throughout the diaspora including the U.S., in our day-to-day lives.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP stands opposed to the practices of caste systems in the United States of America.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP will educate all of our Members and Units to become even better educated in the practices of the caste system and take necessary actions to expose and end such practices and work to repair the damages already done.