Can Democracy Survive Racism as a Strategy?

In this essay, Ian Haney López, member of ISSI's Faculty Leadership Council, argues that the survival of democracy in the United States currently hinges on the Democratic Party winning enough elections to remain in control of the federal government. Responding to the GOP's usage of strategic racism is a main point of contention among the Democratic Party and is hampering their ability to present a unified front. Do they confront the right directly, or do they ignore and leave the Repblicans' electoral strategy unchallenged?