“Our Shared Humanity Is Our Greatest Strength”

A better understanding of the American psyche toward race and the repudiation of extremist views on Election Day requires reexamining our history with a broader lens that scrutinizes the beliefs of the majority, both past and present. 

For African Americans, the 1700s and 1800s were defined by a brutal hierarchy of human value, where Black and Native American lives were relegated to the bottom of the social and economic order. Enslaved, displaced, and oppressed, they endured unimaginable hardship. Yet, their resilience was extraordinary. Black Americans, sold as property, and Native Americans, robbed of their land and forced westward, defied the dehumanizing systems imposed upon them. After the Civil War, Black communities faced relentless violence from groups like the Ku Klux Klan and economic exploitation as sharecroppers, yet they persevered. 

But this dominant narrative of oppression often overshadows another truth: a collaborative spirit and shared purpose that transcended racial lines. This unity was evident in the Civil War, where Black soldiers played a pivotal role in securing the Union’s victory. Some historians argue that their enlistment was the decisive factor in the North’s triumph. Similarly, during the Revolutionary War, the Marblehead Regiment—a diverse group of Black, Native American, Hispanic, and white seafarers—proved indispensable, evacuating the Continental Army from Long Island and ferrying General George Washington’s troops across the Delaware River. This interracial solidarity reveals a collective mindset that rejected racial hierarchy, even in an era dominated by it. 

Abolitionists, driven by profound moral and spiritual convictions, embodied this rejection of hatred. Figures like John Brown, radical in their pursuit of justice, were guided by a divine sense of human dignity. They believed they were called by a higher power to end this scourge of hatred, which runs counter to the fundamental nature of many. And when hatred leads to violence, it often triggers innate revulsion. Networks of white allies risked imprisonment and death to shelter those escaping slavery, demonstrating that the seeds of empathy and connection have always existed, even in the darkest times. 

What does all this mean? What’s the significance of there being integrated forces back then—Black and white soldiers living, dying, and fighting together for a cause? What does it mean when some whites risked their freedom to help Blacks escape bondage? How does it relate to today, as divisive forces threaten democracy and exacerbate racial divisions? What do the recent election results tell us?  

It means that the hierarchy of human value, this fallacy that fuels racial hatred, was never universally accepted—then or now—and neither was the irrational fear of the perceived other. As we look for lessons from the past to apply today, one is that appreciation for human connection existed across races and still does today. Blacks had an inner drive for freedom, an inner truth of who we are. That’s the force that existed then, and exists today, a belief in one’s value and in the dignity and value of all people. It is a defining component of most populations throughout history and today. 

That fairness component is frequently overshadowed by the bombastic rhetoric blaring from partisan and even some mainstream communications channels. But on Election Day, Americans, exercising their right, made their voices heard loud and clear. What transpired were victories in local and state elections across the country for common sense and against the politics of division. These surprised many and shocked others.  

But some weren’t surprised at all.  

On Election Day, voters across the country repudiated divisive rhetoric and reaffirmed their commitment to democracy. The victories were not anomalies—they were the result of a collective yearning for unity and justice. In July, the National Collaborative for Health Equity’s (NCHE) Heart of America Survey underscored this reality. Conducted annually, the third edition of the survey revealed that Americans are far less bigoted, divided, and anti-immigrant than some groups suggest. Instead, it highlights a nation striving for healing, collaboration, and a recommitment to its founding principles. 

Part of the rationale for our poll stems from what our ancestors embodied. That is knowing, deep down, that humanity is kind, compassionate, and capable of empathy, and that this aspect of humanity is connected to a powerful force in the universe. And therefore, that aspect of humanity prevails over the will of the few. A movement driven by fear isn’t the ultimate force in the universe, hasn’t been, and won’t be. 

This false narrative of hostility, hatred, polarization, and division, perpetuated by some media and political factions, only serves those who benefit from it. It shapes public opinion and influences political discourse. Much of today’s polling aims to reinforce, exploit, and drive this false narrative. The Heart of America Survey, however, asks questions in ways that don’t steer responses in one direction or another, making it more reflective of what respondents think, rather than what they have been manipulated to believe. 

Consider how the prevailing public discourse, particularly partisan media and the internet, affects Americans today. If you plant the seeds, prime the questions, and then ask about those topics, you influence the answers. For instance, if you ask someone, Do you believe immigrants are a threat to this country, you’re priming and influencing that conversation. If you ask someone, how important is unity? How important is collaboration? Then you’re priming for the responses? Our poll takes a different approach, using fundamental principles of effective communication to induce more authentic responses.  

Over three years, our poll results show that most Americans want us to heal. They want to overcome our legacy of hatred and division and unite as a nation. This desire for unity and collaboration is the foundation for rejecting extreme and cruel policies and practices on Election Day.  

Our poll reveals the pulse of America: fairness, dignity, and the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The election results affirm and validate these beliefs. The poll and the election results demonstrate that democracy is working. But we also can’t underestimate the threat of those who use power to destroy our democracy. Yesteryear’s plantation owners, who used their power to oppress and exploit, and those governing in Washington today share a disturbing characteristic, a plantation mindset—they believe their will can define our country, rather than the will of the people. 

The Heart of America Survey dove beneath the divisive, partisan political rhetoric and social media echo chambers, revealing a far deeper story of what is unfolding in communities across the country. Sure, the poll showed a nation grappling with profound challenges. Still, it also revealed a resilient spirit, a surprising yearning for unity, and a quiet, yet powerful, recommitment to the very principles and values that America was founded on. 

The survey, conducted by Burson’s Insights, Data, and Intelligence Group, found that the American spirit of unity is resurgent. A powerful and consistent majority of Americans expressed hope for a more unified future, with 76 percent (up from 67 percent in 2023) believing Americans can work through challenges to find common ground. A strong sense of national pride underscored this optimism: 72 percent of Americans expressed pride in their nationality in 2025, indicating a deep, underlying sense of national identity—not nativism—that transcends political factions.  

Despite the often-polarizing public discourse, the poll revealed a strong, consistent consensus on the foundational elements of racial healing. Americans across the political spectrum overwhelmingly recognized the vital importance of promoting diversity in the workplace and educating children on the history of race and racism in America as fundamental first steps towards building a more just and unified society.  

Immigration remains one of America’s most divisive issues, especially around border security and the treatment of undocumented immigrants. However, the survey found that 73 percent of Americans agree that immigrants, regardless of legal status, should be guaranteed due process. Notably, 88 percent of Democrats and 80 percent of Republicans agree on the need to balance welcoming immigrants with ensuring border security, reflecting a shared belief that both humanitarian and national security concerns must be addressed. 

Americans also acknowledge the nation’s complex immigration legacy—82 percent agree that immigration is an integral part of American history and culture. Respondents recognize the vital contribution that immigrants make today, with 77 percent believing “Immigrants enrich the diversity of American society.” This sentiment resonates across demographic groups: 81 percent of Americans of color and 75 percent of whites support it. 

The takeaway is that there is a predominant force for good that often prevails in our country.  

The stories of abolitionists, Black soldiers, and enslaved people who resisted oppression remind us of our origins. They teach us that our birthright is freedom, that our essence is dignity, and that our strength lies in our ability to persevere. These lessons are not relics of the past—they are the foundation on which we must build our future. 

As we confront the challenges of our time, we must draw upon the same will that sustained those who came before us. The narratives of enslaved people, far from being limited to tales of despair, are about the extraordinary strength and ingenuity of the human spirit. They remind us that even in the face of unimaginable suffering, the drive for freedom and justice endures. 

Today, that drive remains crucial. It is the force that unites us, the force that propels us forward, and the force that guarantees that democracy not only survives but thrives. Let us carry on knowing that our shared humanity is our greatest strength—and that, together, we can overcome anything. 

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