In this opinion piece, Kim Skotte discusses the alarming return of racism in American politics as exemplified by the Trump administration. He references Derek Walcott, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1992 for his work 'Omeros', and muses that Walcott would likely never have anticipated witnessing such a resurgence of racism in the United States. The column expresses a sense of betrayal and disappointment at how the ideals of progress and empathy that Walcott might have hoped to promote are being thrown aside amidst current political strife.

Skotte highlights the ongoing cultural war in America, drawing comparisons between the actions of Trump and his supporters and those of the progressive 'woke' movement. He describes this cultural division as being familiar yet more distressing and intense than previous iterations, suggesting that every generation faces its battles between the liberated and the narrow-minded, the progressive and the conservative. He emphasizes that the stakes have risen with the revival of racist ideologies, suggesting a threat to the social fabric of America that had previously seemed to be making strides toward inclusivity.

Ultimately, Skotte argues for the need to confront these regressive elements in American society, labeling the actions of the Trump administration not merely as political tactics but as a significant moral failing. He stands against the comfortable narrative that racism is a relic of the past, insisting that it continues to live on and must be actively challenged to preserve the integrity and value of democratic principles in the U.S.