America’s democracy was conceived like a magnificent castle pro-claiming liberty while reserving political power over-whelmingly for white men. Indigenous peoples were branded “savages,” while enslaved Black people were treated as property rather than citizens. Yet the Founders engraved majestic promises of freedom upon democracy’s gates. Symbolically, however, another sign hung from its drawbridge: “RESERVED FOR WHITE MEN.” Thus, racial hierarchy became embedded within America’s original experiment in representative government. How could a nation proclaim liberty at the castle gate while deliberately denying millions permission to cross its drawbridge?