How did racism come to be? And how does the relation of race and class figure in this history? What role does religion play? Just as race is not a biological reality, racism is not inherent to human nature. It was invented and sustained through historical encounters, economies, politics, and religious traditions. This article compares the history of racism in the United States to current developments, highlighting not just divide-and-conquer tactics but also “unite-and-conquer” strategies that reveal deeper complexities as well as potential solutions.