Episode 1. Crowdfunding Racism: Costs and Consequences

In late April 2025, Shiloh Hendrix, a white woman from Rochester, Minnesota, became the center of a national controversy after a video surfaced showing her using a racial slur against a 5-year-old Black boy who happened to be on the autism spectrum. The incident, recorded by a bystander at a local playground, captured Hendrix repeatedly using the n-word and justifying her language by claiming the child had taken something from her toddler's diaper bag. Following the video's viral spread, Hendrix launched a fundraiser on GiveSendGo, a known facilitator of extremist crowdfunding. She cited fears for her family's safety due to online threats and the public release of her name, address, and workplace. The campaign accrued over $785,000 as of mid-May 2025.

The fundraiser attracted significant criticism, particularly because donation comments included racist and white supremacist messages. We dive into the personal and societal costs and consequences when performing vice becomes the norm, and hate is wielded like a weapon by the wealthy and powerful.