When people discuss politics, they often refer to taxes, health care, or border issues. However, there is a lingering issue that rarely gets addressed directly: racism. It isn’t always obvious, like a slur or a burning cross. Sometimes it’s more subtle, hidden in laws, campaign messages, or how topics are presented on cable news. But make no mistake—racism in politics is still present, and it continues to cause significant harm.
A Problem Rooted in History
America’s story has always been closely linked to race. From the beginning, with slavery included in the Constitution, through Jim Crow laws and the Civil Rights Movement, race has influenced political decisions and divided the nation. Some politicians have built their careers by playing on fear of the “other.” They campaigned on themes like law and order, “states’ rights,” or using coded language about “real Americans.” While the details may vary, the approach remains the same: when you can’t persuade people with ideas, you try to bring them together against a common enemy.
How Racism Shows Up Today
It’s tempting to think that we’ve moved past all that. But look closer. Gerrymandering still carves up minority communities to dilute their votes. Voter ID laws and polling place closures mysteriously target Black and Latino neighborhoods. Even the way we talk about crime, education, or welfare is often loaded with racial undertones.
Campaign ads flash mugshots of Black men to scare suburban voters. Immigrants are painted as threats to “our” way of life. The result? People are divided, suspicious of each other, and less likely to trust the government—or each other.
The Real Harm: Division and Distrust
Racism in politics isn’t just ugly to watch. It tears at the fabric of democracy. When people feel like the system is rigged against them, they stop believing their vote matters. When politicians scapegoat minorities, it gives everyday people permission to do the same in their neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces. The country gets angrier, more cynical, and less willing to compromise.
Policies shaped by racism don’t just hurt minorities—they hurt everyone. Underfunded schools, mass incarceration, and health disparities make the whole country weaker. And when politicians spend more time fighting each other than solving real problems, nothing gets done. Gridlock becomes the norm.
Why It Keeps Happening
Why do politicians keep reaching for the race card? Because it works. Fear is a powerful motivator, and it’s easier to win votes by dividing people than by bringing them together. As long as elections are close, there’s always an incentive to use whatever will get you a few more votes—even if it leaves the country more fractured.
What We Can Do
This isn’t a problem with a quick fix. But it starts with calling things what they are. When politicians use coded language, point it out. When laws seem to target certain groups, ask why. Support candidates who talk about unity, not division. Vote in every election, especially the local ones where policies are set.
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