Moving Beyond White Nationalism to Solidarity with Derek Black
By Katherine Altman
Copley Formal Lounge was bursting at the seams to provide seating for all those eagerly awaiting to engage with an ex-white nationalist. Derek Black is not just anyone who has denounced white nationalism. He was considered the heir of such a movement and even popularized the term “white genocide” on his daily radio show. After two years attending New College of Florida, his seemingly normal world was exposed on his college’s online forum. Black described how this tension-filled backlash changed the direction of his life.
“It’s not that civil discourse wins. That’s not the lesson here. It’s important to talk to people, but the only reason that happened was because it was the biggest uproar of my life. I had to engage with it,” stated Derek Black during the event, which was his first speaking appearance after leaving the movement in 2013. Prompted by Georgetown University Professor Marcia Chatelain, Black explained how white nationalism never felt malicious because the ideology was not only rooted in facts of science and history, but also spread peacefully over cups of coffee or around conference tables.
So, how did a young man deeply entrenched in the white nationalist ideology break away? Black reiterated to the engaged crowd that the combination of tension and civil discourse impacted him to see the harmful reality of such an ideology. From loud opposing voices to inclusive conversations at Shabbat hosted by his friend Matthew, the white walls of the ideology began to crumble in Black’s mind.
Hope and open communication brought Derrick Black on the road to justice. It is difficult to care for or even be in relation with those that hold such harmful perspectives. We are called, however, to be in solidarity with one another. Being in solidarity does not only apply to those who agree with our perspective, but as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops describes with those no matter the “national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences.” Saying that a white nationalist is my brother or sister leaves more than an unsettled feeling. In these times when we are challenged to change our actions, I ask that we raise the question within ourselves: what would Jesus do? Would he ignore and dismiss people believing and acting out such a destructive ideology as white nationalism? Jesus would respond: “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you...Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:27-31). In the name of solidarity, Jesus reinforces that out of love, peace, and justice we have a responsibility to use our voices and engage in non-violent action with those in our family spreading hate and suppression.
Katherine Altman (NHS'19) is an undergraduate studying healthcare management and policy at Georgetown.