These modern-day, blatant acts of racism and white supremacy — akin to those of the civil rights era — elevated the national debate surrounding hate. They forced Americans to again confront a couple uncomfortable questions: why do we hate? And how do we stop it?  

He asks Robert William Smith if he can search him. He turns a bit and Officer Tyler Stewart’s hands brush over the man and asks what he has in the pocket of his black Columbia jacket. “Smokes,”...