Derek Black is a former American white supremacist and godson of former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke. He publicly renounced white supremacy and wrote about his journey away from his family’s beliefs. He credits his conversion to the conversations he had with Jewish friends in college and the compassion they showed him after being ostracized by the rest of the university community.

Many former white supremacists say the reason they left movement was because someone outside their group showed them compassion. While confrontation with facts is often unsuccessful for countering the “Us vs. Them” narrative held by white supremacists, conversation and human connection with someone who is different can be extremely effective.