The Unraveling of a Republic

Drawing on Cornel West's metaphor of Ahab from Moby Dick, Dean argues that the MAGA movement is on a nihilistic quest to dismantle American democracy through attacks on DEI, aggressive immigration policies, and the weaponization of misinformation. This democratic erosion is dangerously accelerated by a conservative Supreme Court that has stripped away judicial checks, a move that dissenting Justices Jackson and Sotomayor have called an existential threat to the rule of law. Ultimately, this text is an indictment of the American citizen, whose apathy allows the republic to founder, forgetting Benjamin Franklin's warning that it is a government they must actively work to keep.

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William Dean
Searching for grace in a world of change: A review of Morrison’s Sula

Set in the Bottom, a Black neighborhood perched above Medallion, Ohio, Sula follows the intertwined lives of two young girls, Sula Peace and Nel Wright. Growing up together, they share a brief, idyllic closeness until a tragic accident forever alters their bond. As they transition into adulthood, Nel leans toward community norms while Sula embraces rebellion and free-spirited independence. When Sula returns, her unorthodox choices shock the townsfolk, prompting them to label her a dangerous outcast. Ultimately, both women confront the haunting consequences of their past, realizing too late the depth of the connection that once bound them.

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William Dean
The House of Equality: Built on Shifting Sands

…Equity, in its compassion, is often misunderstood, even vilified. It is accused of lowering standards, of creating unfair advantages. Its proponents are labeled as divisive, their calls for justice dismissed as demands for special treatment. Yet, the truth is that Equity is not about handouts; it is about reparations, about acknowledging and rectifying the historical injustices that have robbed many of their birthright…

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William Dean