Hate Is Becoming the Norm, But Do Not Fall for It

Commentary — By Buddy Sampson on September 17, 2025 at 10:30 am

By Buddy Sampson

I feel awful about what happened to Charlie Kirk, even as I disagreed with him, even the floor he walked on. The things he has said about Black people, DEI and particularly the remarks he made about Black women, it was like, wow, people are really believing this stuff?

But did he deserve to die? To be assassinated in front of his wife, his children? Absolutely not. Hate, in any form, ANY FORM, should be denounced, and a person should never be killed in this country for their views, even if their views are reprehensible. I was full of tears when I heard the news, and I knew that this would be the start of a horrible chapter of American history.

But I have been reading social media and the comments and I simply wonder…

Where are we as a country? Where are we as a world where some of us celebrate the death of a father and a husband that had crazy views? Why isn’t the same attention brought to the two lawmakers that got killed in Minnesota? Or the Black security guard that was blown up in a recent attack?

I have total mixed feelings on all of it. I know, that yes, he minimalized our people and painted Black people as criminals, and called into question several prominent Black women. But where are we, as a people, when we post comments on social media, such as “he deserved to die,” or “I’m glad he got killed.” When I read those comments, I am simply stunned.

The Scoop LA is about love, and inspiration. This site is here because we want to have great stories and we want to inspire and encourage.

We believe in diversity. Diversity in this country is our strength, not our weakness. Again, it is our STRENGTH. But now, and I am posting the link here, America is now becoming something I do not recognize, turning the pages back to a time I had never thought I would see again.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/articles/two-men-found-hanging-trees-141557508.html

Two men hanging from trees, in Mississippi. The rise of anti-Black sentiment. My heart today is sad. It is in Mississippi where a young Black college kid, starting his life was found hung on campus. It is very suspicious, to say the least. And the rhetoric that is coming out of the government there is the same as it was in 1955. “No evidence of foul play.” In the same day, earlier, another man, a homeless man, was also found hung- in Mississippi. Right now, we need to be holding leaders in Mississippi accountable. There’s surveillance on all college campuses so we can find out answers and we should never accept the line “No evidence of foul play.” So, is Mississippi reverting to getting rid of its undesirables? These men, had the right to life. Charlie Kirk, as reprehensible as he was, should still be here, and so should that college student and that homeless man. Kirk should be here so Black leaders can debate him. And refute him. And this is a message to everyone, especially Black people, and it comes from the Bible:

“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.” Black folk- posting on social media that you are glad someone got killed, turns the wrath of God on you. So DO NOT post it. We are now in a time where social media is monitored, so be smart.

The Charlie Kirk assassination has now galvanized the worst of our country. The KKK and a lot of White supremacist groups that had been dormant, are now making threats to HBCU’s and many of our institutions, including churches. Crazies- misguided people from the right and the left are now emboldened to use violence, killing our politicians, threatening the media, and even killing journalists.

My friends and several people have warned me to stay out of the fray. But when innocent people are going to get killed, I must speak up.

Black people, and now, this is a message to you- be vigilant. Watch your surroundings. There are a lot, and I mean a lot, of misguided, hateful people out there, many of them that use the guise of Christianity to spew and carry out hate. Racism, unfortunately, is imbedded in the fabric of this country, although there are many of us- I believe more than the people that hate, that simply want a functioning society- there are those of us that are actually in the middle that believe that there are some conservative things that work in the country and some liberal things that work. We are right in the middle, and in the middle, there is compromise and the ability to make concessions for a functioning society.

However, with the rise of hate again in this country, Black people in particular, need to be vigilant. Take self-defense courses, go to the gym. Protect yourselves. In fights, the referee always says “Protect yourself at all times.” NOW!

We are now at that time. It is sad, and it is jarring. But we are here. I know one thing, and the thought scares me a little. We have lost our way as a country and we need God more than ever now.

The message to all of us, no matter what your ethnicity- we all have voices. Speak up. Help someone that does not look like you. Instead of hating, and posting remarks about misguided people and wanting them dead, how about posting about love? We need a paradigm shift of love in this country, despite leaders that want to divide, leaders that are about their own self-interests and leaders that do not care about you.

Love is still the answer. But buckle up. We are in for a heck of a ride. Hate is trying to become the norm. But do not fall for it.

Blessings and Love to all of you.