The Illusion of Division
by FAIR Advisor Monica Harris (HLS 91)
Published in late 2022, this important book by HLS alum and FAIR Advisor Monica Harris asks whether America is really as divided as it seems, or whether or our collective reality has been distorted— What if we’re not as different as we think? What if what we’re seeing is just the illusion of division? Harris asks us to “unplug” from the narratives and to find the courage to see through the illusion of division. Only then will we solve the most pressing problems we share and create the country we deserve.
Activist, author, and lawyer Monica Harris takes readers on her personal journey across the racial and political divide where she makes a surprising discovery: America isn’t nearly as divided as we’re led to believe. Political opportunism, exploitative media, and fringe voices have distorted our collective reality by amplifying our differences and polarizing us with hot-button issues. They’ve convinced us that our country is hopelessly fractured when in fact we’re more alike in ways we often ignore. This manufactured division is dangerous because it keeps us from seeing the root causes of systemic problems that are overwhelming us.
The key to pulling our country out of crisis lies in appreciating our shared challenges and interests so we can unite to confront an existential threat to all Americans. When we understand that what we have in common is more important than what separates us, we can empower ourselves to solve the “big picture” problems that deserve our urgent attention. If we find the courage to see through the illusion of division, we can create the country—and the future—we all want and deserve.
About Monica: After receiving a B.A. from Princeton University’s Woodrow School of Public and International Affairs, she attended Harvard Law School with then-future Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and served as an editor on the Law Review with then-future president Barack Obama.
Learn more about Monica Harris and Subscribe to her Substack, The Bigger Picture