Read And Revel

The Klansman’s Son: My journey from White Nationalism to Antiracism was a powerful book! Filled with known names such as David Duke and other KKK, White Nationalism, and Neo-nazi heavy characters this story shows how one individual can make a significant change.

Son of a previous Klan leader turned White Nationalist media personnel, Derek was raised to be the new head of the family and the entire movement. They gave their first media appearance at 9 years old, and only grew in their stance and media attention from there. A life surrounded by these ideals and constant threats from the other side raised them into exactly what their father wanted. Until they saw life and people outside the WN bubble.

This book follows Derek through the family bubble of childhood, to the self-exploration of becoming a young adult, and through the hardship of becoming truly accountable for their own decisions.

Not only is this book a tale of how someone can choose to change by seeing beyond themself, but I admire how much they shared about how people get sucked into this “movement”. Coming from the South myself, I know plenty of people who “don’t hate but wouldn’t date” people of another race or color, or start their sentences with “I’m not racist but“, and that is exactly who the WN groups prey on. With the rise of social media and online communities these people don’t have to join a klan rally or be openly labelled a racist for their beliefs, they can just anonymously go online to share hate between each other.

Although we know this group that is so full of racism and hate is still in existence today, full of old thinking and debunked myths, this book is truly a beacon of hope. If someone so ingrained into this way of thinking, spent their life dedicated to defending it, can make a change then so can many others.