America stands at a dangerous crossroads—where racism is not only a moral failing, but a political cancer eroding the foundation of democracy itself. If we do not address racism—its roots, its systems, and its daily manifestations—we risk watching democracy collapse under the weight of hypocrisy and division.

Democracy, at its core, is the promise that every voice matters and every vote counts. But racism, both past and present, has undermined that promise from the beginning. The very framework of American democracy was born alongside slavery, with Black Americans counted as three-fifths of a person and denied the right to participate in their own governance. And, do not forgt, women were consciously excluded as well. Women were rarely recognized without a husband. Women were rarely recognized as anything other than babaymakers. That legacy continues today through voter suppression, gerrymandering, discriminatory policing, nody autonomy and economic inequity. All of these disproportionately affect Black and Brown communities.

Racism is not simply a “social issue.” It’s a systemic design flaw that corrupts justice, education, health care, housing, and employment — all of which shape whether citizens can fully engage in democratic life. Whites are beginning to experience the expense of poverty with no governement assistance and no work for their businesses. Even the MAGAts are starting to worry, when will the taxes stop? When is the president going to bail us out? They are losing their hope and realizing the folly of their expectations. Their businesses are failing. Their workers are being deported. Their customers are afraid to come outside. They are the oil that keeps the wheels of daily life going. When they are not there, life can grind to a halt. It is not what they expected, when they thought the president would hurt them. When marginalized people lose faith in institutions, when they are excluded from power, when their lives are devalued, there is no reason to keep grinding. Democracy is weakened. Not just for them, but for all of us.

 We see the warning signs. The January 6th insurrection allowing white protestors to push through. Were they Black protestors bullets would still be found at the scene. Republicans have a history of voter suppression laws targeting Black districts, discredting Black officials and leaders, and now book bans aimed at erasing Black history—these are not isolated incidents. They are signals that white supremacy and authoritarianism often walk hand in hand. The problem with authoritarianism is that you think its okay because it affects them. But once there is no them, who do you think authoritarians persecute next? The people who were most compliant. Those people unable to see what is happening or unwilling to do anything Those are the individuals most tolerant of authoritarianism. RAcism is an ieal divider needing little oiutside help for many. If we allow white supremacy to take root and grow, we enable a politics of fear that silences dissent and denies equality.

To save democracy, we must confront racism at every level—not just with symbolic gestures, but with structural change. We must protect voting rights, invest in equitable systems, teach inclusive history, and hold institutions accountable. Only then can we build a democracy that’s not just diverse in theory, but just in practice.

If we fail to act, democracy won’t just erode—it will disappear. And history will remember that racism didn’t just divide a nation. It destroyed it.