“Racism, for white supremacists’ may trigger release of dopamine hormones that give them a euphoric feeling of racial superiority, even as it corrodes their character and humanity.”John Johnson II 08/13/25
By John Johnson II
America is divided, but the fracture is not beyond repair. Beneath the noise, most citizens still agree on core values—fairness, opportunity, and justice. The challenge is turning that quiet agreement into bold, collective action.
We can start by restoring respect to our politics. Civil discourse, leaders who work across party lines, and secure, transparent elections are essential. [According to the Brennan Center], fourteen states have passed laws making it harder to vote intentional acts that deepens mistrust and widens the divide.
Economic unity is within reach. Americans support living-wage jobs through investment in infrastructure, green energy, and manufacturing. Expanding workforce training and closing corporate tax loopholes would rebuild the middle class and shrink resentment between economic classes.
Racial equity is a bridge, not a wedge. Many support teaching a full, truthful U.S. history—both its triumphs and injustices—while ensuring equal protection and fairness in policing. Diversity in leadership or the workplace is not “political correctness”; it is representation that reflects the nation itself.
The most corrosive force is racism. It does not just damage those targeted—it rots the character of those who hold it. It warps empathy, fuels fear, and locks people into rigid worldviews that weaken democracy and block cooperation. By confronting racism together, all Americans benefit.
On cultural issues, there is more agreement than we admit: protecting free speech, religious liberty, and parental involvement in education. Empowering local communities to make their own decisions fosters trust and limits unwanted top-down control.
Truth must be defended. Media literacy, transparency in social media algorithms, and blocking foreign digital interference are bipartisan necessities to protect democracy. Any politician who spreads misinformation and fears doing or losing their job become sycophants, enemies of the people and a threat to democracy.
National healing does not demand uniform thinking—only a shared commitment to the idea that harm to one is harm to all. Racism, perhaps even tied to neurological reward systems that reinforce feelings of false superiority, must be dismantled both morally and psychologically.
A nation that tolerates racism will eventually be consumed by the hatred and divisiveness it breeds. The question before us is urgent: do we have the courage to end it—together? Or can we awaken racists to the fact that the antidote for racism is simply the joy of life itself and not needing to feel superior by hating others.
YOU BE THE JUDGE!
Note: Info. provided by Google AI, title/issues crafted by writer; ChatGPT condensed/increased impact, quote sensitize from Wiley Online Library about impact of dopamine hormones and researchers P. Simi and M. DeMichele.
