How many of you have gone out of your way to reach out to someone who doesn't look like you, doesn't dress like you, doesn't practice the same religion as you or doesn't have the same political views as you? How many of you have spoken out and up for others? I don't have statistical records but I'm inclined to believe that the majority of people in this country simply do not. I believe that the people that are accepting and inviting of others are that way because they are accepting and inviting of differences. Ignorance stems from fear and the unknown and unwillingness to learn. That ignorance can be attributed to what happened to Leslie Jones today.
The attack on her website and on a deeper level who she embodies was disgusting, mind blowing and yet not surprising. When hate consumes you, you're likely to do just about anything. When ignorance fuels you you're likely to react in a cowardly fashion. That's what the person or persons are. Cowards!!! Show your face!!! If your racism and ignorance is so strong that you took the time to try to embarrass and shame someone TAKE CREDIT. That person won't though. Most racists don't want others to know what motivates them and how they really feel about others. Most racists don't think they're racists. They'll explain away their actions by pointing to a plethora of reasons but it will never be because they didn't like the color of the other persons skin.
Be clear, this hacking of Leslie Jones was a racist attack. But, it was also an attack on all of us. All attacks can be a learning tool though. Now, how do we want to respond to this? Do we galvanize and speak up and against or do we sit in front of our computers shake our heads and click on the next story? All wars have been fought and won by people coming together for what they deemed the greater good. Doesn't this deserve that? Isn't it time we all speak up? Aren't we a louder voice when it's multiple voices? Doesn't it mean more when we speak out for others even those that don't look like us, speak like us, practice the same religion as us or even view our government the same way? Aren't we all at the end of the day hoping to pass on love and goodness to others? All it takes is a share, a post or a tweet of the the hashtag #LoveforLeslieJ.