NORTH BAY - A North Bay man who was the victim of racist social media posts is fighting back ... not physically but with humour.
Michael Thompson is a 46-year-old, single father and self-employed business owner who reached out to BayToday to share his story "as a Black man who has been unfairly targeted and misjudged in our small town." He's lived here most of his life.
Thompson is hoping his experience can help foster a conversation about racial injustice, the need for understanding, and how we can all use our voices to stand up against negativity and hate.
"A few weeks ago, my life took an unexpected turn. Someone posted a photo of me on the North Bay Crime and Complaints page, falsely accusing me of being involved in the theft of minnows from a local store. The surveillance video footage clearly did not match me, but the damage had already been done."
He says he was unaware of the attack until a friend in Hong Kong messaged him,
"I was appalled. I was kind of surprised. I was like, well, what's going on here? So then I went to the page and checked it out for myself, and then I was like, 'Oh, wow. This is an interesting case.'"
Someone had posted his picture calling him a thief for stealing minnows from a local business. He watched the surveillance pictures on the website and it obviously was not him, but the comments section can be a cruel enemy, and this time it was racist.
Thompson says people from his community, who know him, defended him, but unfortunately, the post was left to spiral out of control. He believes he was targeted because he is black.
"I really do because at first, the poster was trying to say that it was possibly me, and he went out of his way to screenshot a photo of my Marketplace photo profile and then kept posting it in the comments section.
"A couple of other people explained to him that it wasn't me and that it's totally not the same person. Then afterward he posted another one jokingly, saying 'Oh, that's definitely that guy.' And then he did it with my profile picture again, while saying it definitely was that guy, after everyone was explaining that it wasn't me. He had one of his friends jumping in there and then they started, saying a few ignorant things just by judging my imagery.
"The accuser continued to share more pictures of me and even went so far as to label me with derogatory racial stereotypes. It wasn’t just the false accusations that hurt—it was the barrage of cruel comments from the accuser’s friends, calling me 'the typical type of scumbag,' and perpetuating harmful prejudices."
He says the weight of the attack on his character was overwhelming.
It's not the first time he's experienced racism in North Bay. He saw it quite a bit growing up as a kid but always had friends who usually stood up for him on his behalf until he was able to stand up for himself.
"Growing up here, at the beginning there weren't too many people that were like me, so there was definitely racism going to school, you know what I mean? When you're the only black kid at school. In 1986 there's not too much of a different outlook on certain things like that. Whether it's done innocently or not.
"I’m a father, a provider, and a person who works hard to give my child a future, but instead of engaging in reckless retaliation or letting anger consume me, I decided to take a different path. I chose to use my voice as a tool for strength, and that decision has allowed me to rise above the hate and negativity that was being directed my way."
Thompson says he's seen a change, a shift in attitudes in North Bay for the better with more people speaking out against racism and injustice.
So rather than letting the situation control his emotions and behaviour, he turned to something that has always been a source of solace...creativity.
"I decided to create a music video, using humour and satire to address the situation, but also to shine a light on the real issues of racial prejudice and injustice that so many of us face. It’s my way of speaking back to the hate with strength, not anger. By turning the negativity into a creative outlet, I’m able to channel my emotions in a healthy way, instead of letting frustration and bitterness dictate my actions."
The music video allowed Thompson an emotional release and a way to share his story with others who may have faced similar experiences.
"The video has gained traction and has been embraced by people who understand the pain of being judged based on appearance, and who recognize the importance of standing up against injustice. This is why I’m sharing my story now—it’s not just about me. It’s about how we, as individuals, can rise above harmful stereotypes and negativity, and use our voices to inspire change.
"I want my eight-year-old daughter to grow up knowing that no matter who you are or where you come from, you can find strength in your voice and your actions. My story is about learning to rise above the noise, to reject the prejudice that others try to place on you, and to channel your energy into something positive rather than destructive."
His daughter is aware of the incident but fortunately does not have access to the internet, still, she has questions.
"Once she started asking a few questions, I did explain it to her because I wasn't exactly sure how the situation was going to go. In my younger days, I've had moments in my life where I've had altercations with the police once or twice, when I was younger, a long time ago. So I just wasn't sure what was transpiring from this, I was getting a lot of PTSD from this. I was getting a lot of stress and depression from it because I'm just not sure what exactly it was with these accusations.
"You know, when it comes to the law-type situation, I'm a very big Black gentleman. So stereotypically, it doesn't usually pan out too well. so all these things were rushing into my head.
He still has received no apology, but he does have his video. (See below)
Thompson says he likes making music when he has time, but his daughter and family life keep him busy.
"So luckily I have a lot of friends that I usually do projects with, maybe music or whatever else."
So a friend who had seen what was going on called and suggested they make a song about it.
"Usually whenever I have something to talk about or something bothering me, that's the only time I ever really make music because I don't really try to make music for any other reason. So I was just like, 'You know what, it's been a while.':
He believed the music could help get the message across at the same time and then still have a bit of party with it instead of just being a downer.
"So I decided to just focus on that and just do something fun. And then we did that but didn't realize it was going to get the traction it was getting, a lot of comments coming in and there's a lot of shares, a lot of people just messaging. A lot of people were actually kind of interested in knowing what the situation was, and fortunately when they went to the song they were able to read into the description and know the reasoning behind the song and the video.
"We are in 2025, and yet racial prejudice still exists in our communities. We cannot allow it to continue unchecked. The time has come for all of us to speak out, to stand up for what is right, and to support each other in creating an inclusive, respectful society."
Thompson wants to raise awareness, inspire dialogue, and work together to create a world where everyone is judged for their character, not their skin colour.
