This episode explores the legacy of racial violence in the South, the long history of Black men found hanging and dismissed as suicide, and the ways corrupt police systems and complicit media keep these stories out of the headlines. Joshua breaks down why the lack of transparency, the silence from officials, and the limited news coverage are not accidents—they are part of a broader pattern of erasure in America’s fight against equality.

When Silence Speaks: The Hanging Deaths in Mississippi and America’s Refusal to Confront Racism

Welcome back to Hot Air with Joshua Robert. Today’s post is not lighthearted, but it is necessary.

Last week, two men were found hanging in Mississippi. The images, the silence, and the dismissive official responses bring forward a history that is deeply painful and a present reality that remains far from equal.

I usually focus this podcast and blog on LGBTQ+ rights, free speech, and queer stories. But if I’m going to demand visibility, accountability, and equality for my own community, then I have a responsibility to speak up for other oppressed groups as well. That means speaking about racism in America — especially when stories like these are ignored or downplayed.

This is about Trey Reed, Corey Zuc, and the history of racial terror that still shapes our present.

The Case of Trey Reed

DeMart Trayvon Reed — known as Trey — was a 21-year-old student at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi. Originally from Grenada, Mississippi, Trey should have been preparing for his future. Instead, on Monday morning just after 7:00 AM, his body was discovered hanging from a tree near the campus pickleball courts.

Let’s be clear: when a Black man is found hanging from a tree in Mississippi, that image carries the weight of lynching.

University police, the county coroner, and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation responded. Almost immediately, the familiar phrase appeared: “No evidence of foul play.”

That conclusion came before autopsy results, before toxicology reports, and before Trey’s last hours had been reconstructed. A Black man was found hanging from a tree, and the official narrative was almost instantly minimized.

There are only two possibilities: Trey put himself there, or someone else did. The coroner noted that Trey’s arms and legs were not broken, but that doesn’t explain cause of death, bruising, or other injuries that could indicate foul play.

Even if Trey’s death is ultimately ruled a suicide, it cannot be separated from the violent history of lynching in America. That image is burned into Black collective memory. To dismiss it with a press release is not only insensitive, it is dishonest.

And yet, this story has barely made national news. Why? Because it forces white America to look at itself. Because it challenges the myth that we’ve “moved past” racism. Because it is easier to erase the story than to confront the truth.

The Case of Corey Zuc

On the same day Trey was found, another man — Corey Zuc — was discovered hanging in a wooded area near the Ameristar Casino in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Early reports suggested both victims were Black men, but it was later revealed Corey was white and experiencing homelessness.

Even though the racial history is different, the fact that two men were found hanging on the same day in Mississippi should alarm everyone.

Corey’s story highlights another uncomfortable truth: America treats homelessness, addiction, and poverty with the same kind of dismissal it uses against marginalized racial groups. The rhetoric from certain media outlets — framing homelessness as a moral failing rather than a systemic crisis — only adds to the stigma and dehumanization of people like Corey.

The History We Can’t Ignore

For centuries, lynching was used as a weapon of racial terror. A Black body hanging from a tree was never just a death — it was a message. A warning. A way to enforce white supremacy by fear.

That history is not ancient. It echoes forward every time officials minimize, dismiss, or cover up suspicious deaths of Black men. Families were told their loved ones committed suicide when they knew otherwise. Police refused to investigate white perpetrators. Newspapers erased the racial realities.

So when we hear “no foul play suspected” today, it rings hollow. It feels like history repeating itself.

Why Media Silence Matters

If Trey Reed had been a white student, blonde and female, this story would be dominating headlines. Instead, coverage has been sparse and inconsistent.

This silence is not accidental — it’s intentional. Media outlets choose which stories to elevate and which to bury. By minimizing cases like Trey’s, they protect the myth of progress while silencing Black pain.

And let’s be real: America is quick to obsess over celebrities, politicians, or inflammatory soundbites, but far too willing to overlook the deaths of everyday Black men.

Accountability and Justice

Here’s what must happen:

Trey Reed’s autopsy results must be made public without delay.
An independent investigation should examine both cases, not just campus police or local authorities.
The media must cover this story consistently and responsibly.
Communities must demand accountability, because silence only reinforces systemic injustice.

Even if Trey’s death is ultimately confirmed as suicide, the way it is handled still matters. His life mattered. His death cannot be reduced to a footnote.

Why This Matters for All of Us

This is not just about Mississippi. It’s about how America continues to treat Black lives as disposable. It’s about how justice is delayed, minimized, or denied. And it’s about how silence allows systemic racism to thrive.

As someone who advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, I know how crucial visibility and truth-telling are. If I’m going to demand that for my community, then I have to stand in solidarity with Black communities too. Our struggles for justice are interconnected.

Say His Name

Trey Reed was more than a student, more than a headline, more than the circumstances of his death. He was a son, a friend, a human being with a future ahead of him.

Whatever the final reports say, his life mattered. His story deserves truth, not dismissal.

Please share his name. Share this story. Refuse to let it disappear into silence.

Say his name: Trey Reed.

👉 Hot Air with Joshua Robert drops new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok @_hotairpod and visit HotAirWithJoshuaRobert.com to submit your stories or topic suggestions.

Because the louder we are, the harder it is to ignore us.

HOT FLASH Ep.016/ No Foul Play - Trey Reed, Racism & Modern Day Lynching?