Introduction
It’s 2025, and a Black man still can’t go for a jog without risking his life. In Richland County, South Carolina, the first case charged under the state’s new hate crime law is a grim reminder of that truth. A white man named Jonathan Felkel pulled up on a Black man jogging in the Spring Valley neighborhood, fired a shot, and yelled, “Keep on running, boy.” Police say he admitted to doing it because of the man’s race, with the goal of scaring him. This wasn’t a misunderstanding, and it wasn’t an accident — it was an intentional act of racial intimidation. Just a few years after the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, the same kind of hatred is still playing out in broad daylight. South Carolina’s hate crime law exists for exactly this reason, to make sure the racial motive can’t be ignored. But while the law may hold Felkel accountable, it can’t erase the fear and trauma such an act creates. And it can’t change the fact that, in 2025, jogging while Black is still dangerous.
The Incident
Jonathan Felkel, a white man, pulled up on a Black man jogging in the Spring Valley neighborhood. Instead of passing by or ignoring him, Felkel fired a shot and yelled, “Keep on running, boy.” According to police, Felkel later admitted that he intended to shoot at the man specifically because of his race. His stated goal? To scare him.
Why This Matters in 2025
The fact that this is happening now — decades after similar tragedies like the murder of Ahmaud Arbery — is proof that racist violence against Black people in public spaces is still a present-day threat. Jogging, a simple and healthy activity, remains dangerous for Black men in certain communities, not because of crime in general, but because of the color of their skin.
The Role of the Hate Crime Law
South Carolina’s new hate crime law is designed to add weight to charges when a crime is motivated by bias against race, religion, gender, or other protected characteristics. This case is the first test of that law, and it demonstrates exactly why such measures are needed. Without it, the racial motive behind acts like this could be minimized or ignored entirely in the justice process.
The Larger Pattern
Felkel’s actions aren’t an isolated incident. They fit into a long history of racial profiling, intimidation, and violence against Black people engaging in everyday activities. Whether it’s shopping, driving, or jogging, Black Americans have repeatedly been made to feel unsafe in spaces that should be open to everyone.
Summary and Conclusion
In Richland County, South Carolina, a Black man’s morning jog turned into a racially motivated attack, underscoring that hate-fueled violence is still a dangerous reality in 2025. The shooter’s own admission — that he meant to target and intimidate because of race — makes this case a clear example of why hate crime laws are essential. While South Carolina’s new law is a step toward accountability, the deeper truth remains: no legislation alone can erase the deeply rooted racism that makes something as simple as jogging a life-threatening act for Black men. Until that changes, cases like this will continue to remind us how far we still have to go.