#erasing hate

I'm watching this documentary right now and it's really making me think, especially considering the Trayvon case.

I personally can not understand racism. I've never been even remotely racist, even in my youth out of ignorance. I didn't see people of other races as any different. It might be because I am Aleut and I live in Alaska where there are a lot of native families. I look white and people assume I'm just of a Caucasian background, but around here people know Aleuts can be really light skinned. My parents aren't racist at all.

I know people are still racist. I can't understand that sentiment. I also can't understand that amount of hatred skinheads channel towards strangers. Even if someone does something you hate or that makes you sick it's not an excuse to harm them.

It's my belief that even murderers can be reformed. That doesn't make what they did right. That takes a lot of reforming.

Anyways, sometimes I think there are just certain types of people who're more prone to being hateful and violent and then there are types of people who're ready for peace and to be kind to each other.

Then there are documentaries like this that make me wonder. People find religion or they find themselves. They have a family and find love. They change their lives and become wonderful people.

This is a pretty incredible story of a skinhead who made a life change and left the movement. The Southern Poverty Law Center paid for his face and hand tattoo removal. The transformation is pretty amazing. 

Redemption Song

Former skinhead, Byron Widner illustrated his hate through a series of derogatory tattoos all over his body. However, with the assistance of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), he was able to “leave the white power movement” and get rid of his inked imprints as said by the SPLC. The Southern Poverty Law Center monitors hate groups and other extremists throughout theUnited States as well as exposes their activities to law enforcement agencies, the media, and the public.

To watch Widner’s entire story of redemption, please tune into MSNBC this Sunday at9 PM(EDT) for the documentary, “Erasing Hate.” According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, this film will provide viewers with an account of “his life within the white power movement, the decision that led him and his wife to leave it, and the procedures he received.”

Research indicates that thousands of people every year are victims of hate crime. For every reported case of hate violence, there are countless unreported incidents of hate based violence. The hate crime phenomenon presents complex and agonizing problems to communities nationwide. The problem has become more visible as federal and state officials increasingly track hate violence.

American communities have learned that failure to address bias crimes can cause an isolated incident to result in widespread tension. Hate crimes are unique because they have a special emotional and physical impact that extends beyond the original victim. Bias crimes intimidate others in the victim’s community, causing them to feel isolated, vulnerable, and unprotected by the legal system. By making members of a specific group fearful, angry and suspicious, these crimes polarize cities and damage the very fabric of our society.

While hate violence makes headlines, the positive actions of people across the country are creating a different story. These people include but are not limited to a movement called Not In Our Town. Like other groups battling hate based violence, Not In Our Town highlights communities working together to stop hate. Not In Our Town videos and broadcasts highlight and celebrate people who have developed creative anti-bias programs and responses.  The stories chronicled by Not In Our Town have served to motivate many others to develop their own innovative initiatives which overpower the hateful actions and voices in their communities.

The non-profit sector offers information, education, and activism against hate violence. This list contains a few of the organizations that offer resources or help communities respond to hate activities. Many of the national organizations have local chapters. A brief list of national organizations battling hate based crime includes but is not limited to:

National Organizations

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Web: http://www.adc.org Combats media stereotyping, defamation, and discrimination against Americans of Arab descent through legal action and education.

American Jewish Committee Web: http://ajc.org Published, What to Do When the Militia Comes to Town

Anti-Defamation League Web: http://www.adl.org Combats anti-semitism and racial supremacist ideology, published Hate Crimes Laws: A Comprehensive Guide.

Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund Community education, legal counseling and advocacy on behalf of victims of anti-Asian violence.

Center For Democratic Renewal Web: http://www.thecdr.org Published When Hate Groups Come to Town: A Handbook of Effective Community Responses.

Center for New Community Web: http://www.newcomm.org Publishes special reports on anti-immigrant groups.

Choosing to Participate Web: http://www.facing.org/ Traveling exhibition featuring events in time when individuals and communities made decisions affecting the course of history.

Connect America Points of Light Foundation Web: http://www.pointsoflight.org/sponsors/connectamerica.cfm Sponsors national “Join Hands Day”

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Web: http://www.cair-net.org Published, Law Enforcement Official’s Guide to the Muslim Community.

NAACP Web: http://www.naacp.org Combats racisms and fights for civil rights.

National Council of Churches Web: http://www.ncccusa.org Organized nationally to rebuild burnt churches in 1996.

National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Web: http://www.thetaskforce.org Fights hate crime; monitors attacks on civil liberties.

The National Urban League Web: http://www.nul.org Increasing civil rights, educational and financial opportunities for African Americans through programs and research.

Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Web: http://www.pflag.org Support for families of Gays and Lesbians with hundreds of local chapters.

Political Research Associates Web: http://www.publiceye.org/ Think-tank monitoring the full spectrum of hate organizations.

Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund Web: http://www.saldef.org/default.aspx?zone=misc.faq Legal assistance and educational outreach for Sikh Americans. Civil rights advocacy.

Southern Poverty Law Center Web: http://www.splcenter.org Reports on hate crime and advances the legal rights of victims of injustice. Home of Klanwatch.)

StudyCirclesResourceCenter Web: http://www.studycircles.org Helps communities and organizations begin small democratic, discussion groups that can make significant progress on difficult issues including race.)

100 Black Men of America Web: http://www.100blackmen.org Helps young African Americans to overcome financial and cultural obstacles through mentoring, anti-violence, education and economic development programs.

Source(s): Southern Poverty Law Center; American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee; American Jewish Committee; Anti-Defamation League; Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund; Center For Democratic Renewal; Not In Our Town; Center for New Community; Choosing to Participate; Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR); NAACP; National Gay & Lesbian Task Force; The National Urban League; Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG); Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund; Study Circles Resource Center; 100 Black Men of America.

I don't get how this presentation that has inspired me and made me cry is a joke to people. Hate is not a joke. It is not. I am just glad that he came, and maybe it'll help our community have a little bit more acceptance.