In Heather McGhee’s brilliant talk, “Perspectives on American Democracy in Crisis,” on Jan 31, the Yale American Studies grad, lawyer and former President of Demos (2014-18) argued that “racism is undermining our democracy”; in fact, she explained, our democracy has yet to exist “in its truly aspirational aspect.” In a talk that included an illuminating history of public swimming pools in America as an unexpected and extremely powerful example of her thesis, she explained the current crisis in democracy in terms of this “moment of racial panic” we are currently in and suggested ways to address it. “A functioning society depends on a web of mutuality,” she explained, and any idea that “we can’t fix or solve it is frankly anti-democratic.” Professor Matt Jacobson gave voice to a hope of those in the audience when he suggested a wish that she might consider running for office in the near future!