“Who said a key factor of democracy is equality?”
Among others, Mr. Jefferson “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal…” of course As Orwell said “some are more equal than others”
This is echoed in the PReamble to the Constitution “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, …”
The definition of Democracy is “rule of the people” Now at the time Blacks werent viewed as (full-fledged) people. But few if anyone still has that view. (please dont tell us your view in a public forum).
sure you can redefine “people” to characterize anything as a democracy. An oligarchy or monacrch ycan then both be called “democracies” if you defien people as a few aristocrats or just the king.