A deeply unsettling video of a white woman allegedly calling a Black five-year-old child the N-word has sparked outrage, national debate, and a surprising wave of financial support, not for the victim, but for the woman caught on camera using the slur.
The incident, which took place at a playground in Rochester, Minnesota on April 28, was captured by 30-year-old Sharmake Omar. In the now-viral footage, the woman — later identified as Shiloh Hendrix — confronts a young Black boy, accusing him of rummaging through her child’s diaper bag. When Omar calls her out for allegedly using a racial slur, she offers no apology. Instead replying, “If that’s what he’s going to act like,” and, when pressed further, appears to double down and repeat the slur on camera. She then sticks out her tongue and flashes a crude gesture, all while holding her own child.
Hendrix launched a fundraiser for herself on GiveSendGo, a Christian-oriented crowdfunding site, titled “Help Me Protect My Family.” In her description, she claimed victimhood, writing, “I called the kid out for what he was,” and stating the viral video has brought “great turmoil” to her family. By May 4, the fundraiser had pulled in over $630,000. But the backlash was swift.
GiveSendGo restricted public comments as support for Hendrix’s fundraiser surged — much of it coming from users with far-right and white nationalist leanings. The platform’s co-founder Jacob Wells issued a vague statement acknowledging the “strong emotions” surrounding the situation.
In Rochester and across social media, however, many were outraged not just by the act itself but by how quickly it was financially rewarded. In response, the local chapter of the NAACP launched its own GoFundMe titled “Help Us Seek Justice for a 5-Year-Old Facing Racial Hate.”
“Shockingly, the woman responsible for this hateful act has raised nearly $150,000 in less than 24 hours,” the NAACP wrote in the campaign’s description. “Many of the comments from her supporters celebrate and justify her hate. This fundraiser is our answer for everyone asking how to help.”
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By Sunday afternoon, the NAACP campaign had raised over $340,000 before closing at the family’s request. The funds have since been placed into a trust managed by the child’s parents.
Meanwhile, Omar — the man who filmed the encounter — said he’s been targeted online since the video went viral. In a tactic critics describe as character assassination, Hendrix posted details of his past arrest, including a dropped sexual assault charge from 2022. Omar hasn’t publicly addressed the claims, but local outlets confirmed he’s faced a barrage of online attacks since the incident.
On May 1, the City of Rochester issued a statement calling the video “deeply disturbing” and confirmed that an investigation was underway. “The City of Rochester is firmly committed to fostering public spaces that are inclusive, welcoming, and safe for all residents and visitors,” it read.
For many observers, the situation is another gut punch in the ongoing conversation about race in America. A painful reminder of how often bad behavior is excused, even rewarded, depending on who is involved.
The message it sends, critics say, is that racial slurs against Black children can not only go unpunished — they can become profitable.
As the investigation continues, one thing is clear: this isn’t just about a playground incident. It’s about power, privilege, and who society rushes to protect when the cameras stop rolling.
