This Is What Racism Looks Like in 2025
They thought they could threaten a Black woman into silence. Instead, they reminded us why we fight.
⚠️ Content Warning: This article includes references to racist threats, slurs, and imagery. Listener/Reader discretion is advised when playing voicemail clips included at the end of the article or viewing the posts.
They Came for Her. She Put Them on Blast.
Since February, Tia Hamilton—owner of Baltimore’s Urban Reads Bookstore—has been the target of a coordinated campaign of white supremacist harassment. They flooded her inbox with racist slurs, left voicemails dripping with threats, and sent grotesque lynching imagery to her store’s Facebook page.
They called her a n*gger, a monkey, a “bitch.”
They said they were two hours away from her store, recited her address out loud, and promised to show up when she opened.
They told her she had no rights, called Donald Trump their “God Emperor,” and weaponized African-American ancestry with calculated cruelty.
“You’ll never get your 40 acres and a mule.”
“Shea butter can’t cover the stink.”
“Your family tree? It’s the one with a noose.”
This wasn’t just hate speech—it was psychological warfare. But Tia didn’t flinch. She didn’t cower. She flipped the script.
Instead of retreating, she posted the voicemails. She shared the screenshots. She pulled the curtain back and showed the world exactly what kind of hate still festers in this country—unfiltered, unmasked, and emboldened.
This wasn’t a woman under siege.
This was a woman drawing the line—and daring the rest of us to choose a side.
She Stood Up. The City Stood With Her.
What happened next wasn’t charity, and it sure as hell wasn’t pity. It was respect.
Baltimore showed up—physically, publicly, and without hesitation. The Tendea Family, a grassroots force in the city, took up position in front of her bookstore, sending a clear message: you threaten one of us, you deal with all of us.
Customers poured in, many of them visiting for the first time—not because they were told to, but because once they saw the truth, they weren’t willing to look away.
And they’re still showing up.
Groups like Indivisible and 50501 have held daily vigils at the store. They’re not there to play bodyguard. They’re there to bear witness—to stand in public defense of a woman who looked at white supremacist terror and said, “Not today.”
This is solidarity without the hashtags. This is what it looks like when a Black woman leads with unshakable clarity—and a community has the spine to follow.
We Saw This Coming—And We Said So in January
On January 21st of this year, the day after Trump’s second inauguration, I published an article titled When Hatred Walks Among Us. It was about a moment that shook me to my core—watching ordinary people, in broad daylight at a McDonald’s, openly share racist contempt in a way I’d never seen before. There was a look in their eyes and a tone in their voices I’ll never forget. It wasn’t just anger. It was erasure.
I wrote then: “It was surreal—like watching the first sparks of a fire you know could burn everything down.”
And now here we are—just a few months later—standing in the ashes of what they were igniting.
The threats against Tia Hamilton aren’t random. They are the next chapter. The natural continuation of what happens when hate goes unchallenged, when silence is mistaken for peace, when we underestimate just how far they’re willing to go.
That’s why this moment matters so much. That’s why showing up matters.
Because back in January, I asked a question that still stands:
Will you stand with me?
Because there are only two sides, those standing against this, and those enabling it.
Here’s What You Can Do
Show Up: If you're local, visit Urban Reads Bookstore. Buy something. Say hello. Your presence matters more than you think.
Share This Story: Spread the word so others know what’s happening—and how to help. This isn’t just about Baltimore. It’s about every community facing down hate.
Support Her Work: Urban Reads doesn’t just sell books—it amplifies voices. You can donate, shop, or learn more at urbanreadsbooks.com.
Stay Vigilant: White supremacist terrorism thrives on silence. Don’t give them what they want. Speak out. Show up. Push back.
If You Believe in This Fight, Help Keep It Alive
There’s more below, I just need a moment of your time.
The American Manifesto isn’t backed by corporations. There are no ads, no paywalls, no billionaires funding it.
It’s just one person, fighting like hell to expose the truth and give you the weapons to push back.
If you value this work—if you want this movement to keep growing, keep calling out fascism without fear, and keep fighting for the future we deserve—then I need your support.
Join the fight. Become a supporter. Every contribution keeps this mission alive.
Because silence is surrender. We do not surrender. We are #TheRelentless.
See It. Hear It. Know What We’re Up Against.
⚠️ Content Warning: The following section contains racist slurs, violent threats, and images related to lynching and anti-Black hate. We include them not to shock, but to confront the reality of what Tia Hamilton is enduring. This is the face of white supremacist terrorism in 2025.
These are some, not all, of the white-supremacist filth sent to Tia.
These aren’t just threats. They’re psychological warfare—deliberate, orchestrated, and meant to intimidate not just Tia, but every Black woman who dares to own a business, speak her truth, or build something powerful.
🎧 Voicemail Excerpts
Each of these messages was left for Tia by individuals who either used voice-disguising software or made no attempt to hide their venom. You’ll hear racism, threats, and chilling references meant to terrorize.
Voicemail 1 – Summary:
Racial slurs, including “n*gger” and “monkey bitch”
Caller says they and two others are “two hours away” from the store
Recites the bookstore’s address
Threatens to arrive on Thursday when she opens
Voicemail 2 – Summary:
Says any rights Tia may think she has is a facade
Calls Trump the “God Emperor”
Claims she’ll feel his “repercussions”
Taunts her with “you’ll never get your 40 acres and a mule”
Voicemail 3 – Summary:
More racial slurs
Claims shea and cocoa butter can’t cover “body odor”
Mocks Jamaicans in degrading terms
📸 Images Sent to Her Store’s Social Media and Email
These were not fringe images. They were created and distributed with intent: to dehumanize, to humiliate, to invoke America’s legacy of racial violence, and to make Tia feel unsafe in her own city.
These were sent to her Facebook inbox and email—deliberately, repeatedly, and proudly.
This is not just “trolling.” It’s terrorism.
And if you're horrified, good. That means you still have a conscience. Now it’s time to use it.
Join the Fight, Amplify the Truth
Because silence is surrender. We never surrender. We are #TheRelentless.
Sources
WMAR2 (ABC Affiliate): Community steps in to support local bookstore owner dealing with harassment
In addition to the reporting above, I have personally spoken with individuals who are holding daily vigil at Urban Reads Bookstore. Their presence is not symbolic—it is intentional, consistent, and deeply rooted in community protection. Their voices and commitment have shaped this article just as much as any recording or headline.
Increased racism happened during the 1st trump administration. It'll be worse this time around. He's nearly demolished every single civil rights department in the federal government. We need to protect each other and glad to see that happening at her book store.
Everything in this article is horrific, sickening. This is what the Donald has wrought by throwing fuel on racism. Reading today's SubStack I remembered putting a STOP GOP Hate bumper sticker on my car in 2008. I remember getting jeers from people when they would pass me on the road. I knew what was coming. Of course the Tea Party was ramping up at that time. And here we are. Thanks Lukium for shedding the light on this issue and I am proud of the family being attacked for standing up for themselves. We ALL have to do that for ourselves and each other.