Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist

Don is Derek’s father and radio show cohost. Don became involved in the white supremacist movement as a teenager. He later became the Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan and founded Stormfront, an online hate group for white supremacists. Don is Chloe’s husband.

Chloe is Derek’s mother. She shares a white supremacist ideology but is not as active as Derek or Don in the movement. Chloe is Don’s wife.

Duke is a world-famous white supremacist. He is a former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan and a politician. He is unwelcome in several countries because of his outspoken beliefs. He was married to Chloe before Don. Duke is Derek’s godfather and mentor.

Juan is Derek’s first friend at New College. He is a Peruvian immigrant from Miami. Juan is friends with Derek during his tenure at New College, even after a classmate exposes Derek as a white nationalist. 

Matthew is an Orthodox Jewish student at New College who befriends Derek and invites him to his weekly Shabbat dinners after a classmate exposes Derek as a white nationalist. Matthew concocts the plan to convince Derek to renounce his white nationalist ideology through nonjudgmental inclusion.

Rose is a Jewish New College student from Arkansas. Rose and Derek’s relationship begins as friendship and turns romantic. Derek’s relationship with Rose begins to make him question his ideology that labels Jews as an enemy. After a classmate exposes Derek’s white nationalism, Rose ceases communication with Derek. 

Allison is Matthew’s roommate and eventually becomes Derek’s girlfriend. Allison is a psychology major at New College. She is from Ohio. She is fascinated by people and is a skilled debater. Over several years, Allison and several classmates convince Derek to abandon and publicly renounce white nationalist ideology.

Trump is the 45th President of the United States of America. He is a former businessman and public figure. He developed a following among white nationalists by publicly attacking President Barack Obama as being a Kenyan Muslim rather than an American citizen. He was later elected to the presidency with the support of the white nationalist community in a campaign many describe as racially charged.