Sometimes Fear Is Just Fear - Not Racism, Nor Malice.

The recent viral footage of Michelle Bishop in Ohio has sparked drama across social media. Many are quick to label her actions as racially motivated, but I believe she deserves the benefit of the doubt.

Michelle was alone, walking with her children at night, when she noticed a man in an SUV driving slowly near them. Later, LaMichael himself admitted he was simply looking at Christmas lights - something most people don’t expect a man to be doing alone. Michelle had never seen him before, and her anxiety understandably escalated when he appeared near the same house she fled to for safety.

Context matters. Ohio is one of the biggest trafficking hubs in America, and the unfortunate reality is that predators come in all colors. It’s entirely plausible that Michelle didn’t even register LaMichael’s ethnicity in the dark (he’s light-skinned) - nor does it matter. What mattered in that moment was that she felt vulnerable, alone with her children, and confronted by something unusual: a large vehicle creeping along her walking path.

Would her caution have been applauded if Michelle had been black or indigenous? Are we now pretending that white women are never targets for sexual violence or worse?

Would her fear have been socially acceptable if LaMichael had been white?

Do we really want a society where women silence their instincts and avoid calling for help because they fear being branded with a stereotype? The vilification of “Karens” has become as damaging as the harmful tropes against Black mothers. For the latter I ask, do we want a society where domestic violence victims and their children die in droves because mom doesn't want to be branded a 'baby mama?' Both serve the same purpose: to weaken and divide women.

Yes, police misconduct is a real and urgent issue. But if an officer harms someone upon arrival, the responsibility lies with the system - not the caller who acted out of fear. We cannot place the burden of police violence on women who seek protection.

As a mixed Black woman myself, I carry the tension of knowing my uncles, brothers, and sons may face profiling or worse. But I also have daughters - and I never want them to feel too afraid of public judgment to ask for help when they feel unsafe. As a trauma survivor, I know how anxiety can trigger a deep fear within and have experienced it myself on more than one occasion. More times than not; my fear proved itself to be warranted, but there were a handful of times where it made a fool out of me. 

Assuming every misunderstanding, offense, and negative experience is racially charged can make fools out of vulnerable people too.

Media hypes up a lot of stories, leaving relevant context out so that the masses can run free with their own projections. It is 2025; most Americans are not surprised to see black people living in affluent neighborhoods. While we may not make up the majority (we're not a majority in the USA in any case); this has not been a rarity for a very long time, contrary to the endless propaganda that divides Americans and reinforces limiting beliefs many people have about themselves.  

These moments call for nuance, compassion, and solidarity. Instead of condemning Michelle Bishop outright, we should recognize the complexity of fear in today’s world. Women need to support one another, not tear each other down. Grace, forgiveness, and the benefit of the doubt should be the foundation of that support.

Michelle Bishop's Full Apology: