Summer Fund Drive Special – Healing From Hate: Battle for the Soul of a Nation

We present the documentary film, Healing From Hate: Battle for the Soul of a Nation. Parents need to know that Healing from Hate: Battle for the Soul of a Nation is a documentary about the rise of the alt-right movement and Life After Hate, a group that tries to help members of White supremacy groups exit them. Many crimes and terrorist acts connected to hate groups are described, some graphically. Disturbing images include a firefighter carrying a dead, bloody child and a plane hitting one of the Twin Towers on 9/11. There’s also footage of protests, with people yelling, shoving, and hitting each other; a black-and-white photo of Black people hanging from trees in a KKK lynching; and news footage about mass shootings in Wisconsin, South Carolina, New Zealand, and more. Photography shows skinheads giving Nazi salutes, many racist tattoos, Confederate flags, swastika tattoos, and graffiti. Former hate group members are honest about their past violence and crimes but don’t describe the actions in detail — though viewers will hear a repeated story about a murderer who brags about killing an Ethiopian man, Mulugeta Seraw, with a baseball bat. They’re clearly remorseful and are trying to do better. The film underlines the connection between childhood trauma and the appeal of hate groups, as well as the role of drugs and alcohol (a man whose hands are damaged from injecting methamphetamine is shown). Cursing isn’t frequent but includes “f–k” and “s–t,” as well as some racist language. Ultimately, messages of compassion and teamwork dominate: Life After Hate works earnestly and at length to understand those who hate, and its members hope to use empathy to convince White supremacists to adopt new views.