What’s Really Going On in America?
At first glance, the disputes raging across America—about immigration, diversity, the economy, and political leadership—seem scattered and disconnected. Some argue it’s about immigrants “taking” jobs. Others claim their grocery bills and gas prices hinge on which party is in power. Many decry equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) efforts as threats to the nation’s moral fiber.
But beneath these surface-level arguments lies a deeper truth: this tension has been an ongoing process since the end of slavery. The root issue isn’t immigration, economic policies, or political leaders—it’s fear. Specifically, fear of losing power, status, and the narrative that has upheld America’s dominant caste system.
The Ongoing Process of Fear and Power
When slavery ended, the Reconstruction era offered a brief window of hope and possibility. African Americans were elected to public office, established schools, and built thriving communities. But these successes triggered a violent backlash. White Americans who had built their wealth and status on the exploitation of enslaved labor feared losing their supremacy. This fear fueled the rise of Jim Crow laws, the Ku Klux Klan, and systemic efforts to strip African Americans of their rights and dignity.
The same fear has echoed through American history, manifesting in different forms. During the Great Migration, millions of African Americans left the oppressive South in search of opportunity, only to encounter redlining, segregated schools, and discriminatory labor practices in the North. Every attempt to challenge the caste system—from civil rights to affirmative action—has been met with resistance by those who view equity as a threat to their standing.
Today, this fear is repackaged as opposition to immigration, EDI, and policies that alleviate economic inequality. But this isn’t new—it’s a continuation of the same caste-based fear that has existed since emancipation. The dominant caste clings to the illusion that their prosperity depends on the subjugation of others, a narrative that ensures social hierarchies endure.
The Caste System and Economic Illusions
Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents provides a lens through which we can understand America’s social hierarchy. The caste system ensures that even the poorest white person can feel superior to someone else. It’s a cruel design, offering just enough psychological comfort to keep people voting against their own material interests.
Donald Trump exploited this system with remarkable precision. His policies were thin on substance but thick with symbolism. He slashed taxes for corporations and the wealthy, claiming these cuts would “trickle down” to ordinary Americans. He promised to bring back manufacturing jobs and “put America first.” Yet his tax cuts disproportionately benefited the richest 1%, while his trade wars hurt farmers and small businesses.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, the top 5% of households gained the most from Trump’s tax reforms, while middle- and working-class families saw negligible benefits. Despite this, his rhetoric resonated because it tapped into a deeper fear: the loss of status in a shifting world.
Inflation—driven largely by global supply chain disruptions and corporate greed—was not something a border wall or tariffs could fix. But for many, Trump’s presidency wasn’t about solutions; it was about reasserting dominance. His messaging offered a psychological balm to those who felt left behind in a rapidly changing society, even as his policies failed to improve their material conditions.
Biden’s Policies and the Fear of Equity
Joe Biden’s presidency has delivered tangible benefits for many Americans, such as capping the price of insulin, expanding access to healthcare, and forgiving student loan debt for millions. These policies directly address economic inequality, yet they face intense backlash. Why? Because they challenge the caste system. By prioritizing the needs of marginalized groups, Biden’s actions are seen as threatening to those accustomed to holding the upper hand.
Take student loan forgiveness. Critics often frame their opposition as moral outrage, claiming it’s “unfair” to those who already paid off their loans. But much of this resentment stems from the perception that others—often lower on the social or economic ladder—are “catching up.”
This isn’t about policy; it’s about fear. The caste system teaches people to see equity as a zero-sum game, where someone else’s gain means their loss.
Why Do People Vote Against Their Own Interests?
This brings us to a crucial question: why do so many Americans vote against policies that would materially benefit them? The answer lies in the psychology of the caste system. From Reconstruction to today, the dominant caste has been conditioned to prioritize perceived status over economic well-being.
For instance, universal healthcare would eliminate medical debt, yet many Americans oppose it, fearing it would erode their sense of superiority by providing the same benefits to marginalized groups. Similarly, tax cuts for the wealthy are often celebrated by middle- and working-class voters who believe maintaining the social hierarchy is more important than improving their own financial security.
The caste system teaches Americans to fear change, even when that change would improve their lives. It’s a system of distraction, convincing people to focus on maintaining dominance rather than addressing systemic inequality.
A New Dominant Caste: Lessons from History
History shows us that the dominant caste is not permanent. The ruling group of one era is often displaced by a new elite in the next. After the Civil War, industrial capitalism created a wealthy upper class that replaced agrarian slaveholders as America’s new elite. Similarly, today’s shifting demographics and growing calls for equity suggest that another transition may be underway.
But transitions come with risks. A new dominant caste could easily replicate the exclusionary practices of the old one. For example, Silicon Valley elites—often heralded as progressive leaders—have been criticized for perpetuating wealth inequality, housing crises, and labor exploitation. Without systemic reform, dominance may simply take on a new guise.
The only way to break this cycle is to reject the caste system altogether. Instead of replacing one dominant group with another, we must build a society rooted in equity, where everyone has an opportunity to thrive without exclusion or exploitation.
Real Interests and the Path Forward
The real interests of Americans are not tied to preserving a hierarchy—they’re tied to dismantling it. Universal healthcare, affordable housing, quality education, and fair wages benefit everyone. But achieving these goals requires rejecting the fear-based rhetoric that pits people against each other. It demands solidarity, empathy, and an honest reckoning with our history.
This isn’t easy. The dominant caste’s greatest weapon is distraction. By framing equity as a threat, they shift focus away from the true sources of our struggles: corporate greed, systemic inequality, and underinvestment in public goods. The question isn’t whether equity is dangerous, but why we’ve been taught to fear it.
Conclusion: A Shared Opportunity
What’s really going on in America? Fear, yes—but also opportunity. An opportunity to learn from history, to dismantle the lies of the caste system, and to build a nation where equity is not a threat but a promise. The path forward demands courage, empathy, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.
By rejecting fear and embracing equity, we can replace dominance with solidarity, ensuring that future transitions lead to genuine justice. America’s strength lies not in division but in unity—and the time to act is now.
References
1. Isabel Wilkerson, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
Analysis of America’s caste system and its historical and present-day implications.
2. Economic Policy Institute
Data on income inequality and Trump’s economic policies.
https://www.epi.org
3. Biden Administration Policies
Details on insulin price caps, student loan forgiveness, and infrastructure investment.
https://www.whitehouse.gov
4. Ta-Nehisi Coates, We Were Eight Years in Power
Essays on systemic barriers and white backlash during and after the Obama administration.
5. The Reconstruction Era
Historical accounts of progress and backlash following the end of slavery, drawn from The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson and The Half Has Never Been Told by Edward E. Baptist.
6. Public Sentiment on Equity
Research by Pew and The Atlantic on cultural resistance to equity and inclusion.
https://www.pewresearch.org
7. Global Inflation Trends
Economic data from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
https://www.imf.org