Racism as Addiction

America Is High.

Let me tell you a hard truth.

Racism is not just a moral failure. It is not just a legacy or a policy issue or something we need to "train" out of people with a two-hour seminar and a checklist.

Racism is a drug.

It is addictive.

It is seductive.

And America is hooked.

Every institution you know has built its foundation on this high. It’s the rush of unchecked power. The thrill of being right without question. The comfort of control without consequence. That high lives in our hospitals. It lives in our schools. It lives in our justice system. It lives in the silence of boardrooms and the performative statements of leaders who want progress without discomfort.

The worst part? We pretend we do not feel it. We pretend we are above it. But you cannot fix what you will not name. And I am here to name it.

I have watched this high tear through healthcare.

I have watched it cost people their lives.

I have watched leaders flinch when the detox gets too painful.

And I have spent the last 20 years inside this system, learning exactly how deep the addiction goes.

So no, I am not here to improve the system.

I am here to rebuild it.

This blog is not for the faint of heart. It is not for those who need comfort. It is for those who are ready to feel again. To grieve. To learn. To get honest. And then to lead with the kind of radical empathy that builds something worthy of our humanity.

I call this work recovery.

And just like with any addiction, the first step is telling the truth.

Ready?

Let’s begin! nnekasederstrom.com