By Janice Hayes Kyser
Contributing Writer
SOUTH LOS ANGELES — Hate-motivated speech, behavior or attitudes were familiar topics to nearly 200 students who packed an auditorium at King-Drew Magnet High School on Oct. 14 to learn more about hate’s causes and consequences — and about strategies for preventing or coping with hate.
Hate, commonly defined as an intensely negative and often irrational response toward certain people, things or ideas, is like a virus — one that can have a devastating impact, some students said.
“Hate causes self-hatred which can destroy you both mentally and physically,” said Aiden Timms, a 15-year-old King-Drew sophomore attending the forum.
When other audience members were asked to describe what hate feels like, one student yelled out: “It breaks your heart” — a revealing comment that caused other students to applaud and nod their heads in agreement.
The forum, sponsored by Bridge Builders Foundation as part of the state’s “Stop The Hate” campaign, was designed to help define hate for students and give them tools to recognize it when they see it and combat it when they can.
The state campaign is intended to prevent forms of hate such as bullying, racism, sexism, homophobia and other forms of intolerance from spreading across California and the nation.
“If we’re ever going to overcome cultural hate in this society, it has to start with the young people,” said Gregory J. Huskisson, vice president of Wave Community Newspapers, co-host and media partner of the forum. “We often say children are our future — well, let’s put our money where our mouths are.”
A recently released hate crimes report showed that while reported hate crimes in California decreased overall, reported hate crimes against LGBTQ+, Jewish, and Muslim communities increased. The report, issued by state Attorney General Rob Bonta, also showed that bias and hate crimes against Black and brown people remained the most prevalent, despite a 20% decrease.
Bridge Builders President James Breedlove said because hate incidents are so commonplace against Black and brown people, those crimes frequently are normalized or downplayed – and, therefore, widely underreported.
That’s why the Oct. 14 forum was intended to empower students — most of them Black or Hispanic — to confront and combat incidents of hate, said Jamecca Marshall, deputy executive director of Bridge Builders.
“Racialized crimes against people of color are more than a notion [because] racism is so engrained in the culture of this country,” Marshall said. “It’s important to acknowledge it, explore the causes and give young people the tools they need to stop it. That’s what today’s forum is all about.”
Many students eagerly raised their hands high when forum moderators asked how many of them had been victims of hate. Slightly fewer hands were raised when they were asked if they had perpetrated hate against others.
That kind of honesty and self-reflection, organizers say, is what it takes to begin to turn hate into understanding, said Pepperdine University professor Shelly Harrell, one of the forum’s moderators.
“Hate spreads like a virus,” Harrell said. “We tell people something about a person or a group and they believe it and repeat it and it becomes embedded in their attitudes and affects what they say and do.”
“Hate hurts — and hurt people hurt people,” she added. “It starts with the man or woman in the mirror. It starts with you — and you have to want to change and set the example for others.”
Moderators encouraged students to do their part to put an end to hate by: confiding in a trusted adult, speaking out against hate, seeking support to manage emotions and fear and advocating against hate in all forms
They also urged students to take care of themselves and each other, warning that hate in in all forms — speech, attitudes, bullying, harassment and crimes — can cause distress, trauma and negative health impacts.
To help process or deal with incidents of hate, session leaders also recommended that students journal, meditate, practice visualization and recite affirmations
To that end, moderators asked students to join them in an affirmation:
“I will lift people up instead of tearing them down,” the group recited together.
Facilitators also asked students to share their visions of a world without hate.
“It would mean people can be who they are without being judged,” said one student.
Alayah Outen, a 15-year-old sophomore, added: “It would be [a world] filled with love, joy, peace and tranquility for all.”
To report a hate crime, visit LAvshate.org or call 211 or 833-8NO-HATE.
This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate program. The program is supported by partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to https://www.cavshate.org/
Janice Hayes Keyser is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers.
