Under The Red Hat: A Day In MAGA At An HBCU

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Washington, D.C.– “Make America Great Again” is one of the most infamous political slogans of our time, trademarked by Donald Trump and embodied in the unmistakable red MAGA hat. Since its debut during Trump’s 2015 visit to the US-Mexico border, the hat has come to symbolize more than just a campaign—it’s a lightning rod for emotions, representing a deep divide in American politics. To some, it’s a sign of patriotism; to others, it’s a bold symbol of bigotry and exclusion.

Knowing how charged this symbol is, Morghan Langston, a junior journalism major from Teaneck, N.J., decided to conduct a social experiment at Howard University, a historically Black institution known for celebrating Black excellence, resilience, and pride. She shadowed M’racle Bryant-Morgan, a junior broadcast journalism major, as she wore the MAGA hat throughout her day on campus. The reactions were immediate and mixed, ranging from disbelief to laughter to quiet judgment and even a few side-eyes.

As Dominique Blount, a junior sociology & English double major from D.C., noted, “When she walked through the door, I saw the hat, but I know M’racle as a person. I knew that I wouldn’t hang around people like that for real, so I knew it was a joke.” 

But not everyone saw it that way. 

For some, like Brandon Horden, a broadcast journalism major from California, it was jarring: “It took me back, especially this being Kamala’s school. Like, this is probably not the place you would see people wearing that.”

Others wrestled with seeing a familiar face in such an unfamiliar symbol. Lalia Murdock, a sophomore majoring in Afro-American Studies, remarked, “I was kind of taken aback. I know her in class; her vibe is very much chill. Like, I just said Lauryn Hill, R&B, pro-Black, and she’s got this MAGA hat on. I said, ‘This is not okay.’”

Throughout the day, M’racle faced a range of reactions. Some library staff saw the hat as attention-seeking, while students took photos, laughed, and questioned her intentions. But not everyone brushed it off. Lalia reflected, “I think about people who rep the Confederate flag, or I kinda see it in the same light. You’re not just representing him; you’re representing all the other terrible things about American politics.”

At the end of the day, M’racle was still standing, but her experience highlighted the stark feelings this symbol evokes, even within her own community. Wearing the MAGA hat on an HBCU campus became a kind of “Batman symbol for hate,” sparking questions about what we accept, how we react, and where we as a community—and a nation—truly stand.

Watch more from NewsOne’s partnership with Howard University for Election 2024: Live From The Mecca.

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