Don Lemon called racist/homophobic names by Trump supporters

On Saturday night November 7. CNN anchor Don Lemon made a startling admission on camera. Lemon has often said during the past four years that Trump supporters have called him names. He also has admitted to receiving death threats. On Saturday he actually cried as he gave details regarding how some Americans have treated him since 2016. Lemon acknowledged on air that he has often been referred to as a “ nig*er, f*g by those who are followers of Donald Trump.” In spite of his fame, education and, position in the world of media to some Don Lemon is not considered a successful American. His haters are trying to reduce him to being identified negatively based on his race and sexual orientation.

While it’s true that President number 45 did not instruct these individuals to insult the CNN anchor, his rhetoric during the past four years has set the tone for an environment of hatred and intolerance. There always has been and always will be those who hate Americans who differ from them. What has never before happened in America is for Mullins to blindly follow a sitting president as if he is a cult leader. There have been several incidents where people have broken the law and said they did so because they were taking their cues from Donald Trump.

Sadly what is most disturbing is that 71 million US registered voters ignored the four years of pain many of their fellow citizens endured. In spite of Trump attacking black NFL players, insulting women, and speaking against Muslims, Hispanics, African Americans, and the LBGTQ community. Don Lemon being targeted for his race and sexual orientation by Trump supporters is confirmation of what has been happening to others across the land. Calling the CNN anchor the N-word and a homophobic slur indicates there are people in this nation who are filled with hate.

Not everyone who voted for Trump is against people of color and the LBGTQ community but sadly many are. How painful it must be for Lemon to have achieved all of his accomplishments and only to be disrespected based on two aspects of his life which he did not choose and has no control over. Donald once tweeted that Don Lemon was the dumbest man on television. In the minds of his base, this was a signal that Lemon was the enemy. Although Trump himself did not say the ugly words regarding Lemon's race and sexual orientation, he set the climate for his supporters to make the brutal attacks.

People have always said certain things behind closed doors that were not addressed in public. Donald Trump calling third world countries "Shit hole nations" locking immigrant children in cages and not speaking out against white supremacists opened the door for racists to become bold. Don Lemon's unfortunate situation is a harsh reality for many in this nation. Instead of being judged by the content of their hearts or recognized for their accomplishment, the narrow-minded will always see them only as a "nig*er, a f*g or both. Donald Trump simply made it OK for people to show their true colors, and many obliged him. This is when the words of former First Lady Michelle Obama ring true. "When they go low, we go high."

CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite once cried on air when he related the news about the death of President John F Kennedy in November 1963. His tears were expressing grief about the death of the nation's leader. Don Lemon's tears were for the pain of a nation where it is the President who is causing so much grief. Lemon was also emotional because he, like many others are breathing a sigh of relief after holding our breath for four years. Without Donald Trump leading the way, those of his supporters who are hurling insults will have no one to fan the flames of hatred. Perhaps some of them might take Joe Biden up on his offer to heal the land and stop the division.