Let us be LOUD

Commentary, News — By Buddy Sampson on February 26, 2026 at 1:16 am

By Buddy Sampson

Hello Readers,

For months, I have struggled to write this post.

Since its founding in 1967, The Scoop LA, formerly known as The Scoop Newspaper, has consistently been an apolitical journal. Additionally, we had advertising from both parties prior to the current administration.

I have been wrestling with writing this piece for months.

The Scoop LA, formerly The Scoop Newspaper has always, since its inception in 1967, been an apolitical publication. And, before the current administration, we’ve reached out, and been successful at being a diverse, inclusive publication.

But these are unusual times and we are watching, in real time, the destruction of our US Constitution, the reversal of civil rights and worse, the obliteration of basic, human kindness. I’ve thought about this a lot, and I came to the conclusion, that if God gave me the grace to live another 20 years or so, would I be one of the individuals that remained silent, while we suffer? With racism so rampant now, lynchings trying to resurface, a President portraying Black folk as apes, and a President who seems hell bent on erasing our storied history and our tremendous contributions to American greatness? Silent?

No.

Right now, with hate running so rampant against people of color, so much, that people are emboldened to use physical violence and microaggressions, this is not the time to be silent, or worry about petty differences between each other- it is time to protest, organize and fight.

This is a message to all of us, but especially to Black men and women. This is not the time to be complacent and silent while everything we fought to achieve in this country is slowing being stripped away- our civil rights, our history and even our dignity.

Last night, Representative Al Green demonstrated the fight all of us need- to defy hate-to defend all the rights deserved to us- what we have worked hard for. No, we will not let anyone define us- we are NOT lazy. We are strong. And, in the face of hate, we must stand in solidarity and simply say no. No, we will not tolerate this current wave of hatred- against women, against the queer community, against the poor, and certainly against people of color.

As people of color, many of us were simply stunned when Trump won the first time, realizing that there are so many people that hate us, Black folk, simply because of the color of our skin. I took time to attend the University of California, San Diego, earning my Bachelor’s degree in Communication in 2019. While there, I had a rude awakening.

Like many of us, I never thought racism, as much as it has existed in this country, was still alive and well. While there, I experienced all the microaggressions- truly hateful stares, groups of people leaving when you got into swimming pools, students from other countries and many other students that would purposely hold their noses, spit on the ground when I walked by and a student that bumped into me purposely. (I will not say how I reacted, but I doubt he will do it to another Black student.)

And I am only speaking of my experience after the first Trump victory. When Obama won for the first time, I was walking in Glendale, California and a guy on a bicycle rode up to me and called me the N-word. I was dressed in a suit, talking on the phone with a Publicist, and she begged me to flag down a police car. (Hint, that was not my first thought- I wanted to fight). But my instincts told me that this was the start of the trending of Black hate.

And I hoped I was wrong.

But unfortunately, my instincts were correct. With this administration, Trump managed to divide friendships, families, communities, and countries, with the proliferation of hate everywhere in the United States, which seems to be spreading all over the world.

This administration, specifically Donald Trump, has been fanning the flames of hate- even depicting in a since-deleted tweet, the Obama family as apes, primates.

And we sit by and let it happen?

No. This is a time to bring back decency, a time of love, but not weakness. This is a time for strength, standing tall against the mighty and looming specter of hate.

And let us not forget Kyle Bassinga, a student murdered in Georgia, a lynching, pure and simple.  Let us not let his death be swept under the carpet. That young man was not suicidal. For those of you that thought that lynching could not happen in 2026, that young man is a beaming example of why we, as a people should be collectively outraged.

Then there’s Don Lemon. While I do not 100% agree with all his positions, his arrest represents the attempt to kill the First Amendment, which prohibits government from “from restricting five fundamental freedoms: freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.”

Representative Al Green of Texas had the right idea, yesterday, when he boldly had a sign in the State of the Union address that exclaimed “Black People Aren’t Apes.” Moxie. Courage. Strength. And as John Lewis said “Good Trouble.”

So now, I am taking a stand. We are the people and our government must recognize that we are not powerless. Let us organize and fight. Many people have said this, although it has been noted that Plato may have said it first. Silence is acquiescence.

Let us be LOUD!

I leave you with Bruce Springsteen’s new song. If you have not heard it, listen to the very strong lyrics in this song.

Wishing you all Blessings and Love.

Buddy Sampson