The meanness mania has eclipsed the moral fervor of the mid-20th century freedom movements. The social movements of the 1960s challenged existing power relations, but failed to consolidate a new, radically democratic politics. Ironically, what was created was space where the right wing incubated an intentional strategy of making illegitimate the stated dreams and goals of people of color. The backlash appropriated and reinterpreted the dreams for a pluralist power-sharing society as in the cry of reverse discrimination. It appears to be politically expedient to fan the flames of bigotry.
Hate acted upon is a demonstration of power.
It is also a refusal to share power. Outbreaks of hate attacks often occur in periods of transition as in the time of the ending of legalized slavery, and, later, the ending of Jim Crow segregation laws. The attacks typically have resulted in changes becoming more cosmetic than substantive. Denial is woven into the fabric of our society. The comforting illusion for many non-targeted groups is that bigotry stems from a few weirdos residing on the margins of society.