Speaking out against a Local Hate Crime
A hate crime at a local middle school is heartbreaking for many reasons. It hurts the student or students who were targeted. It frightens families. It damages the feeling of safety that every child deserves at school. And it reminds us that hate does not begin as history, it begins in everyday choices: a word, a joke, a threat, a shove, a silence.
That is why I keep thinking about the question: Will we help, or will we hate?
I recently shared a short video about Ida B. Wells, one of the bravest journalists and activists in American history. Her life shows us what it means to respond to hate not with silence, but with courage, truth, and action.
Ida B. Wells chose help over hate. She helped by telling the truth. She helped by refusing to be intimidated. She helped by making sure the victims were not erased.
Decades later, Nina Simone used music in a similar way. She wrote and performed “Mississippi Goddam,” a protest song filled with her anguish over violence and oppression, including the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham where four young girls died.
Nina Simone chose help over hate. She helped by using her voice. She helped by turning pain into protest. She helped by refusing to let America look away.
And today, we can hear a different kind of message in Megan Thee Stallion’s “Hottie Commandments.” Her words speak to young people in a language they understand: confidence is not cruelty. Being strong does not mean tearing someone else down. Having a voice does not give anyone permission to bully.
That message matters, especially in schools. Students are still learning who they are. They are still learning how powerful their words can be. A cruel comment, a racist joke, or a hateful act can leave a wound that lasts far longer than the moment itself. But kindness can also travel. Courage can spread. One student standing up for another can change the whole feeling of a classroom.
So this is my plea:
When you see hate, do not join it.
When you hear cruelty, do not laugh along.
When someone is targeted, do not look away.
When you have a choice, choose to help.
Please be a Hottie, not a Hater.