I wish I could agree with you on the common perception that "most people are good." While that is a feel-good perception that makes us feel safe in the world, I also think it limits our understanding. What I do believe is that most people are not bad an overwhelming majority of the time, that some people are quite bad (sociopathic) all the time, and others are consistently decent, ethical, and giving all the time. I also believe we exist on a moral bell curve with a lot of area for shades of gray. I do believe that Trump's success can be credited to his racist, bigoted, misogynistic campaign as much as the voters wanting deep reform in connection with this gilded age and non-stop wars.  All racism isn't "hard," meaning out in the open, Jim Crow style. Much of it is soft, as you state, systemic and institutionalized.  Much of it is values based. People of color are not seen as inferior due to color, but their behaviors, which may be culturally based, are seen as inferior.   continued .