The Klansman’s Son by R. Derek Black is a memoir that tells the life story of the author. Black was born surrounded by the hate of white nationalists in his community; Black’s own father was Don Black, a founder of the KKK linked organization, Stormfront. Black’s story describes their upbringing and how they turned their life around, becoming an activist for equality for all marginalized people.
My favorite part of the book was Black’s college experience. Black went to the New College of Florida, which was a progressive school. This was an entirely different environment and community that Black was used to. I loved this part of Black’s memoir so emphatically because it truly showed Black’s progression and personal journey with their beliefs. In class, we learn about self-control, and I believe Black’s story is a perfect example of this. It is not Black’s fault that they were born into a community/ family that had such hate in their heart; however, despite this, Black took the responsibility upon themselves to change for the better. Black implemented immense self-control and willpower to change.
Furthermore, it is within this section of the book that the audience truly sees Black’s psychological soft commitment; even when Black experienced setbacks and struggled with the fear of losing their identity and community by losing their learned hate, they stayed consistent with gradual change. Black’s memoir is extremely raw and vulnerable; they describe how it took years to renounce their old beliefs entirely, but they had “developed valuable patterns of behavior that bridge[d] over individual temptations” (Berg, 2025).
In 2025, we are living in a time where so many people have dated mindsets that Black used to have. I so desperately wish more people could have the same self-reflection on the learned hate that they have within them and change like Black did. Ultimately, we all bleed the same color. We are all the same species. So why do we hate our own brothers and sisters when we should unite? Destruction and hate will never be the answer.
Attached to this post is a link to a video that further delves into my opinion on learned bigotry and why Black’s conversion was successful. I would greatly appreciate it if you could all give my video a watch! Thank you all for an insightful semester; I have enjoyed reading your blog posts and responses. (:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BJUhuCytazzV1jGYu8zpfBRNUI0DiC-s/view?usp=drivesdk
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