Can someone who has known nothing but violence and bigotry, change his life when the evidence of his past is permanently etched on his face? Lawrence will host this new MSNBC documentary, "Erasing Hate," on Sunday June 26 at 9 pm ET.
The piece chronicles Bryon Widner, a former skinhead. While most skinheads are known for sporting tattoos, Bryon’s head-to-toe ink made his appearance especially menacing.
After years of extreme violence against minorities in the name of the white race, Bryon’s life changed forever when he became a husband and father in 2006. He and his wife knew they couldn’t raise their family within the white power movement, but getting out wasn’t easy.
Bryon’s racist tattoos were a constant reminder of his violent past and he found it nearly impossible to support his family. With financial aid from the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2009, Widner made the life-changing decision to embark on an extensive and excruciating 20-month laser removal process at Vanderbilt University.
“Erasing Hate” producers spent nearly two years chronicling Bryon’s incredibly painful tattoo removal treatment — a penance of sorts for the hurt caused to so many others.
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mr. odonnell, i am a great fan of your show. i watch nothing but msnbc 7:00 to 11:00pm. i'm concerned that msnbc is not giving enough coverage to New Jersey democrats that turned their backs on middleclass. can you report on RECALLS in that state for turncoat democrats or what can be done to fire up that state. you all have done such a fantastic job reporting on Wisc. but now New Jersey needs you. i live in florida but have learned so much about politics by watching your show and taking notes. thanks for really CARING about middleclass. joan davis
More shows need to touch more on this matter to let America and the world now that this "one nation, under GOD", proclaim liberty and justice for all, still have this racial problem to overcome, and then maybe this nation will see change!
Especially within the republicans party!
I'm actually watching this documentary as I type this and the sympathy that the producers are attempting to create is completely lost when this "reformed" racist utters the phrase "I know exactly how black men feel" when he is 'discriminated' against in job interview because of his skin head tattoos only to be followed by him having laser procedures to remove them. A black man cannot have his blackness removed. This guy is deserves every second of pain he endures with these treatments and is lucky to have the anesthesia - too bad the victims of his reformed hatred and violence weren't so lucky. The only people I feel sorry for are the children whose lives are entangled with this complete piece of worthless trash and I hope they escape unscathed. I have no sympathy for him or his 'reformed' wife. I'm a gay man who cannot remove my gayness with lasers or 'god' the way that he is 'removing his racism' and so his suffering is no consolation whatsoever that he is making the world a better place.
I am a black woman and I was happy to hear this white man say that he knows what it's like to be a black man because of discrimination. Sure, he can remove his tattoos with a laser and black is forever, but the fact that he felt discriminated against is the point. He went thru a lot of pain to heal from the laser burns. He obviously wanted to change so bad that he would go thru 2 years of pain. But only God can judge him. If he is truly reformed, that's great. If not, God will handle it. Not us.
This hate your showing mark is the very thing this guy went though hell and back to get rid of you call him worthless but from my view point you and will are the ones who are really worthless this brave man could have left the tattoos as a dark reminder and a warning to what he once was but instead chose a painful way to redemption, take a look at history and famous quotes on redemption this man is a living walking example of that and all that famous men and women have echoed he has learn his lession and it shall never be repeated.
I'm shocked at myself for the absolute hatred I'm having for this man. Listening to him describe how he beat up a "Mexican" man in a bathroom makes me even more infuriated. The fact that the word "man" is not part of his retelling of this incident is telling to me and makes me feel that his 'reform' is dubious at best and a complete lie at worst.
Is the SPLC paying for this man's treatments?
What are these people doing to end racism and violence to repay the SPLC aside from making this mock-umenary? What is he doing to make restitution to the individuals that he beat and tortured in his prior life? That's what I want to know.
He did wrong in his past, bad things and he has a lot of redemption to do but at least he is on the right road which is a lot more than I can say for some of the people that post negative things. It would seem they have some erasing do to also.
"Erasing Hate"...You got to be kidding me, This story was a total waste on so many levels. No where near what I thought this documentary would be, especially with it being produced and narrated by Lawrence O'Donnell, whom on most issues I am in agreement with. This was about some violent racist thug getting his tatoos removed so now he could practice and teach his brand of hatred in diguise for free. Not once did this individual express any regret or remorse for the violence he and his racist thugs inflicted on hard working innocent people. It's a shame that the Southern Poverty Law center would use funds to facilitate this project of removing self-generated racist tatoos and symbols from a self admitted hate monger. I'm sure when donors wrote their checks to them, that this was the purpose they expected their donations to be used for. Maybe the funding could of been used for fixing the hispanic's teeth that he knocked out for the hell of it. I also thought it was strange that as diversified as Vanderbilt university hospital is, for a two year period, that of all the doctors, nurses, techs, orderlies, that treated him, not one was a person of color. Was this by request? How ironic, that this person now knows what a black person feels like, because he can't get employment, yet proceeds to have his tatoos removed. Gee, I guess every Afro-american would just love to make life this simple. This racist never attempted to re educate his 5 kids or wife of the errors of skin hatred, or mentor other young people the wrongs of this way of life. Mr. O'Donnell I am very disappointed that you used an hour of air time, to produce such garbage. Were we suppose to feel sorry for this guy. He should of been allowed to live with his sins, similar to the hurt that so many of his victims have to live with for rest of their lives.
I watched the show tonight and was touched at how much change this man, AND his family have all gone through. Everyone makes mistakes in their lives, EVERYONE. The trick is to learn from those mistakes so that you are not doomed to repeat them. Bryon has accepted the fact that he made some horrible mistakes in his life, and is trying to keep from making them again. Yes, he did horrible things, and yes, he has a lot to do to try and balance things out again, but at least he is trying. He's making the effort. This in no way makes up for the horrible things he's done in the past, but that's between him and the victims. I applaud Bryon and his entire family! You are all an inspiration to everyone! Change can happen, one person at a time!! Thank you! {{hugs}}
Is Erasing Hate going to be repeated?
Is the program Erasing Hate going to be repeated?
as a Mother of a 17 year old insecure-young man who was systematically brainwashed by a 40 something year old man-prob 20 kids ended up in prison and this man is free-why?
my son does not hate never really has but was convicted in a horrible crime-his youth stolen and marked-regret-can't describe what it is-ty for doing the right thing-regardless of the world's wrongs/we can make a better WORLD-with a little help from Good People like this!!!! Thank you....
Worthless race traitor. HAHA This guy publicly renounces his race removes his tatoos, and you "tolerant" incompetent muds still hate him. What a waste of time and money. He should have just gone ahead and filled in the rest of his skin with black ink, to portray his new social rank amongst the inferior subhuman savage monkeys. Hope it was worth it sell out. Stupid goyim.
Anyone knows if this documentary can be bought/downloaded from anywhere?
Wow, I was just looking to see when our documentary was going to air again and I can't believe how many comments have been posted here.
@Creatork88 Life is GREAT! When you open your eyes and feel the freedom to love all people, and truly live your life, it's an amazing epiphany!
A huge thanks for all the support. If you haven't seen it, the Associated Press released an article on our journey,
God Bless!
~Julie