Born into a culture of hate and bigotry, R. Derek Black has defined a new path for himself as he describes in his compelling book, “The Klansman’s Son: My Journey from White Nationalism to Anti racism.”  It has been a difficult journey as he has been estranged from family and those in his community of white nationalists with whom he grew up.  He was thought to be the heir apparent to the leadership position his father, Don Black, held in this group who founded the on-line platform, Stormfront.  As you begin to listen to Derek, now in his mid 30’s, you quickly realize that he has thought long and hard about what white nationalism has meant to our American institutions, in contradistinction to our American ideals of equality and justice for all.  The fact that he has made this journey reflects on the possibility for change which he feels is possible for all of us.  At the same time, he is very sanguine about the fraught moment we find ourselves in as many of the extremist views he was raised on take on a more mainstream tinge in 2024.  Our conversation was so compelling, we will make this a two-part conversation.